Newcastle agree to sign Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad for club-record €70m transfer – sources

Newcastle United have agreed to sign striker Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad for €70 million including €5m in add-ons, sources have told ESPN.

The Premier League club have been looking to add a striker to their squad and have decided to smash their club-record transfer to land the Sweden international.

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Spanish outlet El Diario Vasco were the first to report the story, and sources have told ESPN that the LaLiga club are already looking for his replacement.

Isak joined Sociedad in the summer of 2019 from Borussia Dortmund for €10m and, after spending four years at the club, becomes Sociedad’s most expensive departure of all time.

The previous record was held by defender Inigo Martinez, who joined LaLiga rivals Athletic Club for €32m in 2018.

Alexander Isak is set to join Newcastle United for a club-record transfer. Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images

Sources also added that the Isak deal includes Sociedad retaining 10% of any future departure.

The LaLiga club were always aware of potential interest in the striker and increased the release clause in his contract to €90m in late 2021.

Sociedad have agreed to a reduced fee from Newcastle as the offer was too good to turn down, and it was also based on the player’s performance last season, when he had only six goals from 32 league appearances.

However, the striker has been a key part of Sociedad’s forward line over the past few seasons with 44 goals in 132 matches.

In February 2021, ESPN reported that Barcelona were closely monitoring Isak’s development, and during the January transfer window the striker was also linked to other Premier League clubs, including Arsenal.

Isak is set to become Newcastle’s fifth arrival this summer, with Matt Targett, Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Charlie McArthur also moving to St James’ Park.