Joins Newcastle long-term Fernandez-Pardo has joined Newcastle from Lille on a long-term contract, the club announced. Impact Fernandez-Pardo broke out during the 2023-24 season at Gent before returning to Lille in 2024, where he played a key role last season as the club finished third in Ligue 1 and secured Champions League qualification, form that also earned him a Belgium call-up for all three group games at the 2026 World Cup. He's comfortable operating centrally or out wide and can play across the front line, and that versatility could give Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle added flexibility in attack. Sporting director Ross Wilson called him a long-time target the club stayed engaged with throughout the window, and at 21 he's expected to be a developmental piece as well as an immediate contributor.