Sven Botman's old club Lille have sent a classy message to the incoming Newcastle United centre-back with the Ligue 1 club insisting the Magpies have netted a "very high level star".
Botman's £35million transfer was finally rubber-stamped on Friday evening with Newcastle fans now able to toast the Dutchman after a summer long saga that saw United beat AC Milan to his signature with hard cash on the table as opposed to promise after promise. Botman is now set to line up on the left-hand side of Newcastle's central defensive unit in the Premier League next season.
A Lille statement read: "Have a good trip champ! Sven was still just 20 when he signed for Lille from Ajax and it was his first season with the professionals.
READ MORE: Martin Dubravka's agent makes candid vow after Nick Pope arrival
"He instantly demonstrated his solidity and ease in the heart of the Lille defence and formed a partnership with the more experienced José Fonte. In his first season he was used 47 times in the 2020/21 campaign. In his second year he was a major player and helped Lille to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
"He was called up by the Dutch national team a few months ago and now starts a new chapter with Newcastle, a club with a long tradition of ex-Lille players in Yohan Cabaye, Mathieu Debuchy, David Rozehnal, Loic Remy and Patrick Kluivert. He will leave Lille with the memory of a very high-level defender who left his mark on the club." Lille thanks Sven Botman for his performance and his professionalism in the Lille jersey throughout these two rich seasons and wishes him the best for his new adventure on the other side of the channel."
READ MORE
Why Newcastle's economical June points to exciting July
Eddie Howe's challenge as he looks to trim down squad
The Magpies quoted crazy fee for Southampton star
Jamal Lewis' big question as he returns to Newcastle training ground
Forget Twitter negativity, Newcastle have already had a great window
