Eddie Howe admitted he was ‘fearful’ last summer as Newcastle hunted for a centre-back. There were not many realistic options who, in his view, could genuinely improve the side — but Howe had his eye on Malick Thiaw and was determined to try to get him.
Newcastle succeeded in signing the 24-year-old from AC Milan in August for about £35m. The move slipped under some radars amid other big summer deals at St James’ Park, but Howe always described Thiaw as an ‘important signing’ and has been pleased with how he has started.
Thiaw’s profile made him an attractive target: imposing at 6ft 4in, athletic, comfortable on the ball and able to play out from the back. Club figures felt that for that price it would be hard to find another defender with the same mix of attributes. Crucially, Thiaw was open to the switch. After a productive conversation with Howe and his own research into Newcastle and the Premier League, he saw the move as a good fit for his ambitions.
Paul Winsper, a high-performance consultant who has worked with Newcastle previously and with elite athletes such as Anthony Joshua and Antonio Rüdiger, helped nudge Thiaw towards the club during a training camp in the Lake District. Winsper believes Thiaw’s character is particularly suited to the unique atmosphere at Newcastle and compared his mentality to Toni Rüdiger’s — someone who thrives under pressure.
Thiaw needed that mentality soon after arriving. Fabian Schär, the club’s long-standing right-sided centre-back under Howe, suffered a concussion last month. Schär is one of Howe’s most-used players — only captain Bruno Guimarães (167) has more appearances under the manager than Schär (162). Thiaw had arrived a few days before the season began and initially had to be patient, using substitute appearances and training time to acclimatise to the Premier League’s intensity.
When his opportunity came, against Bournemouth, Thiaw was ready. He impressed in training and, after making his full debut, has kept his place in the side. Close friend and former Schalke team-mate Erdem Canpolat sums him up succinctly: ‘Malick never shies away from a challenge and always wants to lead from the front — a true mentality monster.’
The supporters have taken to him quickly, even serenading him with a ‘Ciao Bella’ chant after strong displays. Since Thiaw’s full debut, Newcastle have conceded only six goals in nine games across all competitions. While the side have still been hurt by late goals at times, their overall defensive record has been one of the reasons they sit higher than their recent form might otherwise suggest.
Only Arsenal have kept more Premier League clean sheets than Newcastle this season (five), and only Arsenal have a lower expected goals against (xGA) than Howe’s side, who sit on an xGA of 7.33. Thiaw has formed a solid central partnership with Sven Botman and contributed noticeably to that defensive resilience.
Statistically, in a small sample of Premier League defenders who have played at least 400 minutes, Thiaw ranks highly: fourth for interceptions per 90 (1.79), sixth for aerial duels won per 90 (4.17) and sixth for duel success (71%). On the ball, his pass completion rate at Newcastle is 87%, second in the squad only to midfielder Jacob Ramsey. Those numbers underline a defender who combines physical presence with technical ability and decision-making.
Former team-mate Can Bozdogan highlights that Thiaw ‘tries to find solutions rather than simply kicking the ball long.’ He praises Thiaw’s technique, speed, strength and game-reading: attributes that make him effective both in build-up play and in traditional defensive duties.
For Howe, the early signs are encouraging. ‘Malick is an outstanding talent and has a little bit of everything in his game,’ the manager said, adding that the player has ‘just been himself’ since joining. That blend of character, physicality and composure on the ball explains why Newcastle were willing to invest and why Thiaw has already become an influential figure in their back line.
It remains early in his Newcastle career, but the combination of form, public affection and statistical contributions suggest Thiaw could prove to be a shrewd signing — exactly the kind of player who can thrive under pressure and help stabilise a team hungry for consistency.
