This week saw Newcastle United’s summer signing Vakhtang Salia jet into Tyneside to get a feel for the club he will join in August 2025. The 17-year-old Georgian sensation signed on the dotted line back in September in a move seen as a real coup for the Magpies as they continue to bolster their youth setup.

Dinamo Tbilisi will continue to oversee Salia's development until he turns 18 later this year before the youngster is thrown in amongst Newcastle's other exciting young talent to see if he can be the next exciting teen to burst into Eddie Howe's first-team plans. Salia was given a glimpse of what life will be life when he arrives on Tyneside for good later this year after receiving a guided tour of the club’s Benton base over the weekend before taking in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Bromley inside St James’ Park.

The youngster also spoke, in English, for the first time about his imminent switch, offering plenty of clues as to what type of player Newcastle have signed. Here’s what we learned as the black and white faithful got a glimpse of the club's latest exciting purchase.

READ MORE: Newcastle United make mockery of 'ceiling' after Amanda Staveley was left turning the air blue

READ MORE: Pep Guardiola's James McAtee transfer stance as Newcastle face Bundesliga oppostion

Confidence clear to see

It's hard not to get excited when listening to Salia in his future surroundings for the first time. Despite his age and relative inexperience, the youngster is clearly not afraid of talking up his own game and doesn't seem to be lacking in confidence.

“I don’t think I can play just one position,” he told Newcastle’s official media channels. “I can play in three positions. Just let me play and I will prove it." A confident response for a kid so raw.

Salia is a household name in his native Georgia, despite the fact he hasn’t yet been called up to the senior national side. Speak to those back home and the attacker is already being hyped up as the heir apparent to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who is set to sign for Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year deal.

Salia was a regular for Tbilisi last term, featuring 29 times in what proved to be an extremely underwhelming campaign for one of the country’s most decorated teams as they finished seventh of 10. At international level, the teen has represented his country at Under-19 level in recent months.

Why did he sign?

After making such waves in his homeland, interest was naturally high in the young prospect. Before signing for Newcastle, the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and the mighty Real Madrid were tipped with holding an interest. Other publications have also suggested Premier League sides such as Arsenal and Liverpool were also keen.

The lure of the Premier League needs no going over but Newcastle may also have some former exploits to thank for Salia’s decision to join them. Two Georgian heroes - Temur Ketsbaia and Zurab Khizanishvili - have previously pulled on the famous black and white, which helped the prospective superstar make his decision.

"My father and my agent convinced me that two Georgians played here," Salia said. "The club has a big history.

"The first time I heard it [Newcastle were interested] I could not believe it. It was big news for me. It's my dream to play at St James' Park - and I think it's everyone's dream to play there."

The pathway on offer

While Salia has dazzled in the Erovnuli Liga - a league that is ranked as the 66th strongest in the Global Football Rankings - a step up to the Premier League will of course represent a big leap for the youngster.

His arrival will be most likely be met with the same level of fanfare that accompanied Garang Kuol's transfer to the club back in 2022. Signed, like Salia, after impressing in his native country on a consistent basis, Kuol was also courted by a number of top European sides.

His Central Coast Mariners to Newcastle move was announced just months before he was selected to represent Australia at Qatar 2022 at the age of 18, where he became the youngest player since Pelé in 1958 to play in World Cup knockout game. Yet Kuol has never been able to match his Aussie exploits in Europe, either on Tyneside or when shipped out on loan to Scotland or the Netherlands.

Salia will likely be in and around Diarmuid O'Carroll's under-21 outfit to begin with, with senior training sessions pencilled in alongside fellow youngsters Trevan Sanusi, Travis Hernes and Alex Murphy. There is hope Howe will soon be able to call on some of the shrewd youth signings Newcastle have quietly made in recent seasons since the 2021 takeover.

“It’s a big challenge for me and I have motivation to play outside of Georgia. It’s a move that every professional has to make to follow their dreams," Salia continued during his first interview.

“One year ago it was my dream to play for Dinamo Tiblisi. After my first goal, I was shocked for two days! But that was the motivation to score more goals. And when I heard Newcastle were interested in me, that (motivation) grew.”

Newcastle's transfer stance clear

Newcastle are targeting the best young talent from both around the UK and across the globe after dramatically increasing their scouting capabilities in recent years.

“We continue to scout extensively, both domestically and overseas, with a view to securing players who can come through our talent pathway and, ideally, become part of the first team in future," Sporting director Paul Mitchell said after Salia's arrival was confirmed last year.

Salia is the latest exciting export to be poached for the future at St James' Park, with Mitchell following on from Dan Ashworth's blueprint of seeking to beat their competition to academy and reserve prospects.

The aforementioned Sanusi, who came off the bench in Sunday's win over Bromley with Salia in attendance, and his fellow England youth team-mate Leo Shahar were both signed from Midlands clubs - Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively - despite a long list of teams queuing for their signatures.

Alex Murphy and Cathal Heffernan were plucked from Ireland, with Galway United winger Kyle Fitzgerald set to sign on his 18th birthday later this month. North of the border, Newcastle moved for centre-back Charlie McArthur and goalkeeper Jude Smith, who has since left for Carlisle United.

With Newcastle facing looming PSR concerns this time last year, Manchester City youngster Alfie Harrison, then 18, was the only new arrival during the last winter window. The Magpies also poached Blackburn Rovers' youngest ever first-team player, Rory Finneran, in the summer.

The last transfer window also brought the exciting signing of Miodrag Pivas - a versatile Serbian teenager who has already been tipped for a future similar to native legends Nemanja Matic and Branislav Ivanovic. Pivas is currently struggling for game time at Dutch side Willem II on loan.

After years of neglecting their youth setup, Newcastle are now putting time, energy and resources into signing 'Next Gen' talent who could one day be in and around the first-team. That is the hope with Salia too.