There were no double takes. In truth, few knew that a new signing was even watching on as Newcastle United defeated Arsenal at a rocking St James' Park last week. His name? Baran Yildiz.

There have been more headline-grabbing arrivals since the takeover, of course, but Genclerbirligi youth coach Adnan Ozcan suggested the Magpies had made a 'very smart move' for the future by bringing in the 18-year-old.

"Baran was transferred for a very low fee considering the size of a club like Newcastle United," he told ChronicleLive. "Given his potential, he is definitely worth much more."

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Although Genclerbirligi retain a sell-on clause, the fee in question is believed to only be a five-figure sum, which covers the compensation the Turkish side were due for developing Yildiz. This represents another low-risk investment for Newcastle following a noticeable shift in strategy.

Sporting director Paul Mitchell, after all, has spoken about how Newcastle have to stretch their scouting radius in a PSR world to 'find undervalued talent at a certain age profile' while Eddie Howe has also recognised that the Magpies need to unearth 'untapped gems and try and develop players to become top players'. Yildiz is the latest example.

Just as Newcastle moved aggressively for Georgian Vakhtang Salia, who is just 17, to 'get ahead of a number of other top clubs', the black-and-whites adopted a similar approach with Yildiz. So what can Newcastle expect?

"He has all the technical and mental attributes needed to become a top-level footballer," Ozcan said after working closely with Yildiz at under-15 and under-17 level. "However, he still needs to develop his physical and athletic abilities.

"The good thing is that he is aware of this and has the determination and mindset to work very hard on these areas. That makes him a player with the potential to reach the highest level in my opinion.

"Off the pitch, Baran is a quiet, calm and kind-hearted person who listens more than he talks, but the moment he steps onto the field - especially when defending - he becomes very aggressive, tough and physical. He is always open to criticism and discussions about his weaknesses. He has a strong work ethic and a constant desire to improve.

"He is one of the hardest-working players I’ve seen. Sometimes, during matches, I feel like he doesn’t even get tired."

You can see how Yildiz caught Newcastle's eye in youth games as a number eight - those who have worked with the midfielder reference his positional awareness, aggression and passing ability - and if the Magpies had waited, there was the very real chance that another Turkish side could have swooped in after Galatasaray, among others, monitored the youngster's development. That is what happened with Arda Guler, for instance, who also came through Genclerbirligi's system, after Fenerbahce signed the Turkey star before going on to sell him to Real Madrid for €20m.

Ozcan worked with both Guler and Yildiz and although the pair are very different players, with their own unique qualities, the coach said they are both 'extremely hard-working, open to development and always striving for improvement'. Yildiz still has a long way to go to reach the level of his fellow academy graduate, having only started training with Genclerbirligi's first team this season, but the 18-year-old has vowed to make those closest to him proud as he embarks on a new adventure.

"He is incredibly excited and happy to have this opportunity," Ozcan added. "He knows how big of a chance this is for him and is mentally and physically ready to work hard. His main goal is to make the most of this opportunity, stay at this level and eventually earn a place in the first team."