Newcastle have signed the DR Congo defender Chancel Mbemba from Anderlecht for around £8m, subject to the granting of a work permit.
The 20-year-old confirmed last week that he was on the verge of completing his move and a statement on Newcastle’s website revealed the club have been giving the green light to complete the transfer after being granted a governing body endorsement (GBE) for the player at a Football Association hearing on Thursday.
Mbemba, who has signed a five-year deal, has still to be granted a work permit but despite his country being ranked outside the top 50 by Fifa, the FA’s decision means it should be a formality.
Born in Kinshasha, the versatile defender becomes Newcastle’s third signing of the summer, after Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
