Former Schalke pro Malick Thiaw also moved to the Premier League in the summer. With great success. The center back is celebrated at Newcastle United.
With the crazy sums spent by Liverpool FC on Florian Wirtz (€125 million) and Newcastle United on Nick Woltemade (€75 million), it was somewhat overlooked that another German moved to the island in the summer: Malick Thiaw.
Like Woltemade, the former Schalke pro moved to Newcastle—for €35 million from AC Milan. Like the former Stuttgart player, he also seems to be a hit.
While Woltemade is making people forget Alexander Isak’s record transfer to Liverpool FC (€150 million) with his four goals in six games, Thiaw has become a fixture in central defense.
Due to the late transfer, the 24-year-old had to wait until the fifth matchday before he was given a chance to start. But since then, he has not relinquished his place in the starting lineup.
“When you train well in the background and don’t play, 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 bit of everything in his game. I’m very happy 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 wasn’t very long.”
With the athletic Thiaw, the defense has become more stable and stronger. Only leaders Arsenal have kept more clean sheets and conceded fewer expected goals per game than Newcastle.
Of all defenders who have played at least 400 minutes, the three-time international has the fourth-most interceptions per 90 minutes (1.79), the sixth-most headers won (4.17), and the sixth-best 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,” a former Newcastle United club advisor told the BBC. “When you put him under pressure, he really thrives.”
The fans have also noticed this, 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 are in twelfth place after two wins from their last three games, four points behind the international competition they are aiming for.