Defender Dan Burn hails ‘perfect’ Saudi impact on boyhood club Newcastle United

For Dan Burn, Newcastle United’s ambition has no bounds and they have the motivation and mindset to bring unbridled joy to their football-obsessed city.

They are also a team driven to oppose those who do not want them to succeed — or disrupt the status quo of clubs who have long dominated at the top of the Premier League.

Following the 2021 takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Newcastle have gone from being involved in a relegation battle to a fourth-placed finish last season and subsequent return to the Champions League after a 20-year absence.

Defender Burn says that it has been “perfect” since he joined his hometown club from Brighton 19 months ago for £13 million.

“I’m loving it,” he told Arab News exclusively. “It couldn’t have gone any better since I signed really.

“We are doing really well, still a lot to do, but I would have snapped your hand off if you had said we were going to do this when I signed.

“With the ambition of the ownership, we always knew we were going to go in this direction. We have probably done it a lot quicker than what we were expecting and it’s about trying to keep us on that trajectory now and keep pushing for as long as we can.

“The takeover brought new life into the club. With the fans, too, they didn’t just demand a team that wins, but a team that tries to win. 

“Ever since the ownership has come in, especially with (co-owners) Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Amanda Staveley, I see them and they couldn’t do more. When you have got a group like that behind you — and always wanting to do better — then to get us to where we are now, I’m sure they will keep trying to do that.

“Around the city you can see everyone buzzing and it’s nice because, for a long time, it hasn’t been