Mehrdad Ghodoussi's message to Matt Targett after defender seals Newcastle United deal

Newcastle United have signed Matt Targett from Aston Villa for £15million - with the defender putting pen to paper on a four-year deal at the club. The 26-year-old impressed during a loan spell during the second half of last season, playing 16 times as the Magpies climbed up to 11th place.

Targett becomes the first major signing of what is sure to be a busy summer at St James’ Park as the club strengthen the squad and try to reach their European goal. The left-back admitted he was ‘over the moon’ once the signing was confirmed, adding that the Newcastle dressing room is ‘probably the best dressing room I've been in.’

And once the signing was confirmed, Newcastle co-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi tweeted his congratulations.

He tweeted: Well deserved @Mattytargett

Targett is sure to be the first of several arrivals at St James’ Park this summer, with the likes of Hugo Etikike, Sven Botman and Moussa Diaby all mentioned.

But his arrival on a permanent basis means now that all of the five that arrived in January - Chris Wood, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimaraes and Targett - will be at the club to start the 2022/2023 season.

The former Villa man spoke after the signing was confirmed about his ambitions during his time at the club, stating that European football is the ultimate goal.

“For me, I hope I could be a part of this club playing in Europe.” He told the NUFC website. “I think we could try and get into Europe in the next few seasons. I think that that's a massive achievement.

“You look at teams like West Ham, Wolves, Leicester, I think they’re the clubs that you want to be aiming for in this next season and establish yourself as a top-half team and then kick on so for sure, that's a target to work for here.

“I