Amar Dedic celebrated his 24th birthday by putting pen to paper on a Newcastle United contract.
The right-back became the Magpies’ sixth summer signing on Tuesday, and their first since Matthias Jaissle was confirmed new Newcastle boss. The German succeeded Eddie Howe at the St. James’ Park helm earlier this month.
Crucially is that Newcastle have brought in a player Jaissle knows well. The pair worked together at Liefering and Red Bull Salzburg. The newly appointed Magpies boss will bring out the best in the Bosnia-Herzegovina international.
In this article, we’ll cover:
What does Dedic bring to Newcastle?
Given the departures of both Emil Krafth and Kieran Trippier, Dedic’s arrival couldn’t have been better timed. With Tino Livramento struggling for fitness after his summer spell on the sidelines, Dedic may even be thrown in from the outset against Liverpool. Sink or swim, Amar.
So, what will Dedic bring to St. James’ Park? Well, crucially, is that he’s an attack-minded full-back. The Austria-born star doesn’t need a second invitation to bombard up the right-flank.
This willingness to get forward is crucial for a Jaissle’s system. Indeed, the 38-year-old’s preference is a 4-2-3-1 formation with the widemen cutting infield from their respective wings. As such, there is a greater reliance on the full-backs to provide the width.
Attacking impetus from deep
The approach will suit the forward-thinking full-backs at Jaissle’s disposal. Lewis Hall and Livramento both look to push forward down the left and right, respectively. And as Dedic’s performances for Benfica last season highlight, the new arrival does, too.
Dedic, after all, created 1.1 chances per 90 in Liga Portugal last season. 24 total chances created was the seventh most for the Lisbon giants. This translated to four assists. When on the ball, he looked to bring possession forward and beat a man having averaged 1.6 completed take ons per 90.
Only Gianluca Prestianni (53) and Andreas Schjelderup (36) completed more take ons than Dedic (34) for Benfica. All in all, he’ll be vital to the way Newcastle operate when they do push forward. Jaissle is a manager who looked to play a vertical style of football during his time managing in Austria. The onus was on winning possession and quickly transitioning upfield.
The approach was curbed during his time as Ah-Ahli boss, where the Saudi side dominated opponents. The spell with the Middle East saw Jaissle implement a more patient style. Jaissle’s tactical adaptability will benefit Newcastle in the Premier League and Dedic’s style given his commendable distribution.
Factor in his versatility – Dedic is able to operate at left-back – and he’s a handy squad member to call upon. There are shortcomings to Dedic’s game, however, and it might be exposed in the Premier League.
Defensive concerns
Newcastle’s new boy does struggle with one-on-one defending while the desire to push forward does leave space in behind. Granted, Dedic has both the mobility and athleticism to mask the latter, but against the better wingers the division has to offer, he may be exposed.
While he managed 1.7 tackles per 90 in Liga Portugal last season, he was also dribbled past 0.7 times per 90. It’s not a high return, but then this was in a Benfica side that ranked third for possession (57.7%) in Portugal’s top tier.
Then there is the blood-and-thunder approach to defending that may impact Newcastle. Dedic committed 0.8 fouls per 90 in Liga Portugal last season. Again, not a high amount, but relative to Benfica’s possession, it wasn’t a great return. At the 2026 World Cup, he averaged two fouls per 90.
Ill-discipline a worry
It’s a concern in that Newcastle weren’t the best at defending set pieces last season. The Magpies conceded the fourth most set-piece goals (17) in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign. Only four teams conceded more penalties (5). Dedic is a committed individual, we’ll give him that, but it’s an approach that can do more harm than good. The Bosnia-Herzegovina star was one of seven players to have received multiple red cards in the 2025/26 Liga Portugal campaign.
The hot-headedness can be kept in check, however. The full-blooded style will also sit well with the Newcastle faithful, provided, of course, he’s able to successfully navigate the disciplinary tightrope.
While Newcastle have endured a tumultuous summer, the arrival of Dedic is a positive step. The club are willing to back the manager, who will surely benefit from working with a player he knows well. Dedic, too, could prove a fine addition to the ranks, and one that’ll give Livramento a run for his money.