Newcastle United signed England U21 international midfielder Joe Willock on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season on transfer deadline day today as America international defender DeAndre Yedlin left the club to join Galatasaray on loan.

Head Coach Steve Bruce was delighted with the capture of Willock saying:

"I'm delighted to bring Joe to Newcastle until the end of the season. He is a very exciting and talented young player who can get up and down the pitch and can score a goal from midfield.
"He has made a very decent impact at Arsenal after coming through the ranks and to make nearly 80 appearances for the club by the age of 21 says much about his development, ability and character.
"He is very keen to come here and test himself and he'll be a great addition to the squad."

Willock, 21, has been on fire in The Europa League for Arsenal this season scoring three goals and assisting another four but has found Premier League starts hard to come by under Mikel Arteta and was deemed surplus to requirements at The Emirates for this season following the arrival of Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid last week.

The versatile midfielder, who has represented England at various age levels 19 times scoring five goals, arrives at St James' Park being able to play a range of positions in the team from centre midfield to the no.10 role or just behind a striker and could even be the genuine box-to-box midfielder Newcastle manager Steve Bruce has been seeking to bolster the Newcastle midfield ranks with ever since he arrived at the club.

Going the other way out of St James' Park is DeAndre Yedlin, the American right wing back signed by Rafa Benitez in 2016 for £5 million who was a major part of Newcastle's promotion push back to The Premier League winning The 2016/17 Championship and flourished with The Magpies back in the top flight under both Benitez and Bruce.

The former Spurs and Sunderland full back played 125 times for The Magpies scoring 3 goals over the last five seasons but had only played 16 times last season and 6 this season after becoming third-choice right back after Javier Manquillo and Emil Krafth.

He'll be fondly remembered on Tyneside on the pitch for his rapid pace and last ditch defending exemplified against Liverpool in the 1-1 draw secured in October, 2017 against Mo Salah & co plus this great diving header against Bournemouth last season:

Off the pitch, he was recognised in Newcastle as one of football's good guys with a big heart and smile, always willing to talk to the media and help the local community and received this thank you for his efforts from the Newcastle Foundation tonight:

Yedlin is sure to be a success in Turkey but as one Newcastle United career ends, another chapter begins and its up to Joe Willock to seize a big chance to establish himself as a Premier League regular at St James' Park and he was relishing the challenge telling NUFC TV of his excitement at the switch:

"This is a club with a massive history that I've grown up watching and I'll work my socks off for the team. I can't wait to see everyone and be part of the Newcastle family."

Willock wasn't registered in time to face Crystal Palace at St James' Park tomorrow night but will be an interested spectator and will link up with his new teammates and be in the squad for the Southampton game also at home on Saturday as Newcastle look to kick on in the second half of The Premier League season.