Report: Newcastle overspending on Yoane Wissa suddenly doesn’t look so bad after Aston Villa revelation
The final hours of the transfer window often feel like a high-stakes game where the normal rules no longer apply. Desperation can set in, and clubs sometimes find themselves paying a premium to get a deal over the line.
For Newcastle United, the sudden and monumental sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool on deadline day created an urgent need. They absolutely had to find a new striker, and fast.
That search led them to Yoane Wissa of Brentford, and the resulting deal raised a few eyebrows across the Premier League.
There is no denying that Newcastle paid a significant fee to secure the services of the 29-year-old forward. Their initial offer was believed to be in the region of £30 million, but it took a final sum of £55 million to finally convince Brentford to part with their player.
At first glance, that looks like a massive overpayment, a classic case of a club being held to ransom because everyone knew they were in a tight spot.
It was a signing born from necessity, a move that summed up the pressure Newcastle were under to replace their star man.
However, the story of a transfer window is never about just one deal. It is about the overall strategy and how the pieces fit together financially.
While the Wissa deal might have seemed expensive on its own, it is perfectly balanced out by what many are calling one of the steals of the summer: the acquisition of Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa.
The exciting 24-year-old midfielder arrived at St James’ Park for a fee of £43 million. What makes that price so impressive is that it is substantially less than what his former club originally wanted.
Reports from sources like the Athletic indicate that Aston Villa’s initial asking price for their academy product was a firm £50 million.
Through negotiation, Newcastle managed to structure a deal for an initial £39 million, with a further £4 million in potential add-ons.
In today’s inflated market, securing a player of Ramsey’s quality, potential, and homegrown status for that price is exceptional business.
When you look at the entire window, the picture becomes even clearer for Newcastle. It was a summer of record spending, with the club’s total outlay reaching an astonishing £260 million when including all potential add-ons and fees.
They brought in six senior players, each addressing a key area of the squad. The signing of Nick Woltemade for a club-record £69 million shows their ambition to build for the future, while experienced additions like Aaron Ramsdale on loan provide crucial stability.
But a modern football club cannot be run on spending alone. The brilliance of Newcastle’s summer is revealed in the net spend figure.
The monumental £125 million received from Liverpool for Alexander Isak was a game-changer. When combined with the fees from other departures like Sean Longstaff and Lloyd Kelly, the club brought in approximately £163 million from player sales.
This means that despite all the exciting new arrivals and the headline-grabbing fees, Newcastle’s net spend for this ambitious window sits at a very reasonable £96 million.
This is a masterclass in balancing the books while significantly improving the overall quality and depth of the squad. So, while paying £55 million for Yoane Wissa might have felt like an overpayment in isolation, it was a calculated move within a larger, highly successful financial strategy.
The deal for Jacob Ramsey provided the balance, and the sale of Isak provided the power to make it all happen. In the end, what seemed like desperation looks a lot more like clever planning.
| Newcastle United’s 2025 Senior Signings | Transfer Fee (with add-ons) |
|---|---|
| Nick Woltemade | £69m |
| Anthony Elanga | £55m |
| Yoane Wissa | £55m |
| Jacob Ramsey | £43m |
| Malick Thiaw | £34m |
| Aaron Ramsdale (loan) | £4m |