Introducing Mehdi Abeid

Earlier this morning, Newcastle confirmed the signing of French under 19 International, Mehdi Abeid, on a free transfer from Lens. Abeid, 18, becomes Newcastle’s fourth French signing of the Summer transfer window, following the arrivals of Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba and Sylvain Marveaux, and has signed a five year contract at the club.

Abeid’s transfer has been in the offing for over a month, with the player confirming his intention to move to Newcastle when speaking to French publication L’Equipe at the end of May:

“After eight fantastic years at Lens, I have stagnated. I needed a change of air. I am not afraid to leave for abroad. I have had contact dating back some time and I visited the facilities there [Newcastle] last week. I even trained with the reserve team. I already discussed things with Hatem Ben Arfa and Cheik Tiote and they encourage me and welcomed my signature”.

So what do we get?

Abeid is a right footed midfielder who in his early days played as a right winger, but who has since converted to a ball playing central midfielder. Blessed with pace, quick feet and skill, Abeid has the qualities of a winger who likes to run at his opposing full back and is also adept at cutting inside, either to run directly at goal or to find a teammate, but it is his vision and quality to pick a pass that make him ideal for a central midfield role.

Stats

At only 18 and without making an appearance for the Lens senior team before his departure, there is little to garner from Abeid’s career thus far. Nevertheless he impressed last season for Lens’ ‘B’ team with 3 goals in 12 appearances and already has experience at International level with 14 caps for France under 17s and 3 caps for the under 18s. It is perhaps futile to read too much into Abeid’s career stats at this stage, particularly given that he is yet to play at senior level, however, in his brief football career to date, he has shown enough to excite Newcastle about his potential and lead to the club acting quick to secure his signature on a long term deal.

Where will he fit in?

When speaking to L’Equipe in May, Abeid told of how he expected to be a part of Alan Pardew’s plans next season presumably in the first team squad:

“The leaders of the club told me about their plans and that they will rely on me for next season. For my part, I intend to give everything to develop in the Premier League“.

On reading the comments of Reserve Team manager Peter Beardsley, on the other hand, the intentions appear for Abeid to start his career in the Newcastle reserves before earning progression to the senior squad:

“He is a bright, young talent and we think he has an exciting future ahead of him. After an impressive trial with us earlier in the year, I’m looking forward to working with Mehdi and developing his talent”.

A sensible strategy given that Abeid would face stiff competition for a place on the wing in the senior squad, with current first teamers able to play wide including Jonas Gutierrez, Joey Barton, Sylvain Marveaux, Shane Ferguson, Hatem Ben Arfa and Ryan Taylor while competition is also stiff in the centre of midfield with Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Dan Gosling, Alan Smith and Danny Guthrie all ahead of him in this position. It is also a strategy which will give Abeid the chance to develop and adjust his style to the English game under less pressure and at a lower level.

Abeid will turn 19 next month and can take solace in the progress of other 19 year olds in the squad – Shane Ferguson, Sammy Ameobi, Michael Richardson and Phil Airey, as well as 18 year old Haris Vuckic and 20 year old Nile Ranger, who were all included in the first team squad at some stage last season having shown promise for the reserve team. Alan Pardew appears to be a believer in the adage that if you are good enough, you are old enough, and if Abeid impresses early on in his Newcastle career, I would envision that he will get his chance in the Carling Cup, or when injuries and suspensions take their toll on the first team squad.

Conclusion

Young, French, free and with potential sell on value, Abeid is a player who comfortably fits within Newcastle’s admirable transfer policy of signing players who are under the radar of other clubs, at low cost and on long term deals. And as such joins the ever swelling 5 year contract club alongside Mike Williamson, Steven Taylor, Haris Vuckic, Nile Ranger, Shane Ferguson, Yohan Cabaye, Sylvain Marveaux and Alan Pardew himself.

Abeid comes highly regarded and Newcastle, able to sell their vision for a French Legion at St James’ Park, have done well to attract his services. Certainly an encouraging signing, if not for now then for the long term, and should Abeid live up to his billing, Newcastle could well have a star in their ranks.

Welcome to Newcastle, Mehdi Abeid.

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