From Overpriced To Undeniable: Malick Thiaw Is Silencing Everyone

From Overpriced To Undeniable: Malick Thiaw Is Silencing Everyone

When Newcastle paid around £35 million for Malick Thiaw in August, AC Milan fans could hardly believe their luck. To them it felt like smart business. Thiaw had been part of a Milan side that finished eighth in Serie A, solid but not spectacular, and his time there was stop-start because of injuries. He was good, just not great, so when Newcastle came calling with serious money, Milan fans were convinced they’d pulled one over on the Premier League.

Welcome to Newcastle, Malick! 👋⚫️⚪️

We are delighted to announce the signing of defender Malick Thiaw on a long-term deal from Italian side AC Milan. pic.twitter.com/1955375516808327638

— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 3, 2025

Milan’s Smart Business Move

From Milan’s point of view it made perfect sense. They’d picked Thiaw up from Schalke in 2022 for around £6 million, developed him for a couple of seasons and sold him for five times that. A tidy profit and one less defender to worry about. For Newcastle, though, this wasn’t a luxury signing. It was a fix. Eddie Howe’s side were short at centre back and needed someone who could slot in quickly without disrupting the rhythm of a back line already under pressure.

The Perfect Profile

On paper Thiaw was the perfect fit. Tall, quick, calm on the ball and good in the air, he had all the traits of a modern defender. He arrived without the hype of some of Newcastle’s other signings, but Howe saw a player who could grow into the role. According to Sky Sports, the £35 million fee could rise with add-ons, showing Newcastle’s long-term belief in the German centre-back.

Taking His Chance

At first he wasn’t a guaranteed starter. Sven Botman and Fabian Schär were ahead of him in the pecking order, but football moves fast. Injuries opened a door, and Thiaw didn’t just step through it; he stormed through it. Within weeks he was showing why Newcastle had paid big money. His composure in tight spaces stood out, as did his timing in duels. He plays like someone who’s been in the league for years, not months.

Impact And Influence

The impact has been obvious. Newcastle look calmer when he’s on the pitch. He brings a balance that allows the full backs to push higher, and his aerial presence has tightened up the team at set pieces. He doesn’t dive into tackles or overplay the ball. He just does the basics well and makes defending look simple, which is often the hardest thing to do.

Flipping The Script

For a player once written off as an overpayment, Thiaw has flipped the script. The fee now looks more like foresight than a gamble. Howe wanted a defender who could grow into the system and bring long-term stability, and that’s exactly what he’s got.

It’s still early days, but if Thiaw keeps this up, Milan fans might have to admit they called this one wrong. Newcastle needed a centre back. What they found instead might just be their next defensive cornerstone.