Amar Dedic joins Newcastle United from Benfica for £29.5 million

Amar Dedic joined Newcastle United from Benfica on Tuesday, becoming the club’s sixth signing of the summer ahead of the Premier League 2026-27 season and completing a move to St. James’ Park. The Magpies will pay £29.5 million and Dedic has signed a five-year contract after finishing his medical the previous day.

Newcastle made the signing following the departures of several senior players, including influential club captain Bruno Guimarães, with the Saudi-owned club describing the capture as a statement of intent. “Working with Matthias (Jaissle) again was a big factor for me,” Dedic said. “We know each other well; he knows what I can bring to the pitch and I’m really happy to play for him again. It’s a special feeling and a real honour to join Newcastle.”

Dedic was born in Austria to Bosnian parents and began his youth career at LUV Graz before moving to Sturm Graz in 2012 and joining Red Bull Salzburg’s academy in 2015. He progressed into Salzburg’s feeder side FC Liefering, where he made his senior debut at 16 and accumulated 50 appearances across two seasons.

After signing a new contract with Salzburg, Dedic made his first-team debut in a cup match against Bregenz in September 2020 and spent a season-long loan at Wolfsberger AC, making 32 appearances. He returned to feature in Salzburg’s senior squad from the 2022-23 season, participating in the UEFA Champions League and registering 60 appearances with four goals for the Austrian club.

In February 2025 Dedic joined Marseille on a six-month loan before completing a permanent move to Benfica at the end of the 2024-25 season for €12 million. He made 25 appearances for Benfica during his single season at Estádio da Luz and attracted Newcastle’s interest ahead of this transfer.

Internationally, Dedic represented Bosnia and Herzegovina from the U-17 level and made his senior debut in 2022 in a friendly against Luxembourg; he has 31 caps and one goal for the national team. He is primarily a right-back but has also been used as a right-sided wing-back and in more advanced wide roles.

With Kieran Trippier having departed at the end of last season and Tino Livramento the only senior right-back remaining, Livramento is yet to recover from a calf injury, putting the spotlight on Dedic, who will likely need to be ready to start Newcastle’s Premier League opener against Liverpool on August 23.