Malick Thiaw became the first player to score his first ever Premier League goal in the opening minute of a match since Kenedy for Chelsea against Norwich in March 2016 [Getty Images]Ciaran Kelly - Newcastle United reporterSat, November 29, 2025 at 8:51 PM UTC·5 min readEddie Howe was "fearful" last summer.
Newcastle United were in the market for a centre-back and there was not exactly a long list of realistic names whom the head coach believed could make the difference.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHowe had his sights set on Malick Thiaw, but would Newcastle be able to prise the 24-year-old away from AC Milan?
And, even if they could, would another club come in and beat Newcastle to the punch once again after Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko, Joao Pedro and James Trafford were among those targets who opted to move elsewhere during a draining transfer window?
Not this time. Newcastle managed to complete a £35m move for Thiaw in August.
It was a deal that went a little under the radar elsewhere given how Newcastle went on to break their transfer record to recruit another German, Nick Woltemade, and spent bigger fees on Yoane Wissa, Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut Thiaw was always going to be an "important signing", according to Howe.
"Malick is an outstanding talent and has a little bit of everything in his game," he said this week. "I've been really pleased with how he's started."
Thiaw became the first Newcastle player to score headed goals in a single Premier League match since Georginio Wijnaldum against Norwich in October 2015 [Getty Images]A little bit of everything indeed.
Thiaw has settled in defensively for Newcastle this season, but in Saturday's 4-1 win at Everton he also showed his attacking prowess.
His best goalscoring season was the 2021-22 campaign, in which he scored a total of two goals for Schalke.
He matched that tally in 90 minutes at Hill Dickinson Stadium, getting off to an emphatic start with the fastest Premier League goal of the season, netting after just 52 seconds with a powerful header.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe added his second, another header at the back post just before the hour mark as Newcastle secured their first top-flight away win this season.
"I'm grateful, it is an incredible moment for me," Thiaw said after the game. "The Newcastle fans have welcomed me like it is my new home.
"They told me it was the fastest goal this season in the Premier League. It's an amazing feeling, it's incredible to score two goals. I hope more goals are coming."
Thriving under pressure
No wonder Newcastle had been tracking Thiaw's progress at Milan for some time.
There was a belief within the club that it would be difficult to find another defender with a similar profile for such a price, particularly one as imposing, athletic and comfortable on the ball.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThiaw, crucially, was also keen on joining Newcastle, having previously turned down a move to Como.
He had a productive chat with Howe and was understood to have viewed Newcastle as a "match" for his ambitions.
He was "proud" of Newcastle's interest after personally doing his homework on the club and the Premier League.
In fact, Paul Winsper, a high performance consultant who previously worked for Newcastle, says he was even able to "sell the North East a little bit" to Thiaw during a training camp in the Lake District a few weeks beforehand.
Winsper, who has also worked with heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, England rugby union captain Maro Itoje and Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger, always backed the 24-year-old to "relish" life at St James' Park.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I'm not saying AC Milan are not a big club - they are - but it's a different atmosphere at Newcastle and he has the character," Winsper said.
"His mentality reminds me a lot of Toni Rudiger. When you get him under pressure, he is going to thrive."
Thiaw certainly had to thrive after Fabian Schar suffered a concussion in September.
Schar has been such an ever-present at right-sided centre-back that Thiaw initially had to be patient to get his chance after arriving a few days before the season started.
But Thiaw used that time on the bench to study games - witnessing the "bite" and speed of the Premier League first hand, in the words of Howe - and he impressed staff with his performances in training.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSo when the time came to make his full debut, against Bournemouth, Thiaw was primed to take his chance.
Such have been his displays since then, the 6ft 4in Thiaw has kept hold of the shirt.
That will not have come as a surprise to close friend Erdem Canpolat, who rose through the ranks with Thiaw at Schalke.
"Malick never shies away from a challenge and always wants to lead from the front - a true mentality monster," he said.
'Newcastle will have a lot of fun with him'
It is still early days, but Thiaw has been embraced by Geordies, who have serenaded him to the tune of 'Bella Ciao' following his performances.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSince he made his full debut, Thiaw has formed a strong partnership with Sven Botman in the heart of defence.
"He's just been himself," Howe said.
It is a small sample size but, of those Premier League defenders who have played a minimum of 400 minutes in the competition, according to Opta, Thiaw ranks 10th for aerials won (3.8) and third for duel success (71.6%).
On the ball, meanwhile, at Newcastle only midfielder Jacob Ramsey (90%), Lewis Miley (89%) and Tino Livramento (87.2%) have a better pass completion rate than Thiaw.
This is a defender who "tries to find solutions rather than simply kicking the ball long", as former Schalke team-mate Can Bozdogan said.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"He is a central defender with a really good technique," he said.
"He can build up but, on the other hand, he's also really athletic. He's fast, strong and can read the game.
"Newcastle will have a lot of fun with him."
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