---
title: "Newcastle United: Lee Ryder confirms Magpies close to signing Matthew Bondswell"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-lee-ryder-confirms-magpies-close-to-signing-matthew-bondswell/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2021-03-14T13:05:24Z"
modified: "2021-03-14T13:05:24Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Lee Ryder confirms Magpies close to signing Matthew Bondswell

**Lee Ryder has confirmed on his official Twitter page that a deal is [‘almost done’](https://twitter.com/lee_ryder/status/1370739791239733259) for Newcastle United to sign Matthew Bondswell from RB Leipzig.**

The Chronicle journalist had [confirmed](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-transfer-rumours/newcastle-united-lee-ryder-confirms-talks-to-sign-matthew-bondswell/) earlier in the week that the St James’ Park outfit were in talks to sign the England under-18 international on a free transfer but faced competition from other sides in the Premier League.

\[freshpress-poll id=”348934″\]

Nonetheless, it looks as if the Magpies have beaten off that competition and Bondswell should arrive soon.

### Bondswell one for the future

Bondswell certainly seems a player for the future at the Tyneside club (should he sign) being just 18 years of age, but he has a lot of potential to make it to the very top of the beautiful game.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”348103″\]

Stefan Krause, who is the Leipzig reporter for Bild, has recently told [The Chronicle](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/david-alaba-comparison-truth-behind-20084577) that he is ‘highly-rated’, while the [Bundesliga website](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-matthew-bondswell-rb-leipzig-england-u18-left-back-8178) has compared him to Bayern Munich star and [UEFA Champions League winner](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/david-alaba/erfolge/spieler/59016) David Alaba, saying that he has a ‘God-given athleticism’, a ‘cultured left foot’ and a ‘malleability’ which allows him to play in [a number of different roles](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matthew-bondswell/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/565682) in the side.

Bondswell is clearly highly-regarded, and so it looks as if Steve Bruce’s team have got themselves a bargain on their hands on a free transfer, assuming this reported deal gets over the finish line.

***In other news,*** [***find out what arbitration claim on the potential NUFC takeover has been dropped by a sports law specialist!***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/newcastle-united-sports-law-specialist-drops-arbitration-claim-on-potential-takeover/)