Former Schalke pro Malick Thiaw also moved to the Premier League this summer—with great success. The center back is being celebrated at Newcastle United.
Amid the astronomical sums Liverpool FC paid for Florian Wirtz (125 million euros) and Newcastle United paid for Nick Woltemade (75 million euros), one fact got lost in the shuffle: another German player moved to England this summer—Malick Thiaw.
Like Woltemade, the former Schalke player moved to Newcastle—for 35 million euros from AC Milan. Like the former Stuttgart player, he, too, appears to be a home run.
While Woltemade is helping fans forget Alexander Isak’s record-breaking departure to Liverpool FC (150 million euros) with his four goals in six games, Thiaw has established himself as a mainstay in central defense.
Due to the late transfer, the 24-year-old had to wait until the fifth matchday before getting a chance to start. But since then, he hasn’t relinquished his starting spot.
“If you train hard behind the scenes and aren’t playing, then you know you can seize the opportunity when it comes,” said coach Eddie Howe, emphasizing: “He kept himself mentally fresh, alert, and ready. And when he did play, he was just himself. He’s an outstanding talent. He has a little bit of everything in his game. I’m very pleased with how he’s started here.”
For a while, he was worried that the transfer might fall through. “Because the list of players who were good enough for us and could have an impact like Malick’s wasn’t very long.”
With the athletic Thiaw, the defense has become more stable and stronger in its play. Only league-leading Arsenal has kept more clean sheets and conceded fewer expected goals per game than Newcastle.
Among all defenders who have played at least 400 minutes, the three-time national team player ranks fourth in interceptions per 90 minutes (1.79), sixth in headers won (4.17), and sixth in tackle success rate (71%), according to statistics. At Newcastle, only midfielder Jacob Ramsey has a better pass completion rate than Thiaw’s 87%.
“His mentality reminds me a lot of Toni Rüdiger,” said a former Newcastle United club advisor on the BBC. “When you put him under pressure, he really thrives.”
The fans have noticed this too, singing the name of the former Schalke youth product to the tune of “Bella Ciao.”
“It’s great,” Thiaw said recently, adding: “My friends and family were amazed when they heard it, because I’ve never had my own song at a club before. They really appreciate the love the fans have for me.”
Newcastle United is in twelfth place after two wins in its last three games, four points behind the spot that would qualify them for international competition.