Mehrdad Ghodoussi, the former co-owner of Newcastle United, recently defended the club’s £25 million transfer of Chris Wood from Burnley. Ghodoussi spoke about this during the World Sports Summit in Dubai, alongside his wife Amanda Staveley.
Chris Wood’s Transfer and Its Impact
Newcastle signed Wood in January 2022, marking a significant moment following the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) takeover. Ghodoussi claims that acquiring Wood was a strategic decision that benefited the club in multiple ways.
- Wood joined Newcastle to bolster their attacking options.
- The signing was also intended to weaken relegation rivals Burnley.
- During his time at Newcastle, Wood scored two goals in 18 games.
Transfer Window Success
Ghodoussi highlighted that the January transfer window brought other crucial players to Newcastle. Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, and Bruno Guimaraes were among those who joined and helped lift the club out of relegation danger.
Although Wood’s contributions included just two goals, Ghodoussi insists that his signing was prudent given the circumstances at the time. He stated, “We were sitting 18th in the league when we bought him.”
Misjudged Perceptions of Wood’s Impact
Despite Ghodoussi’s praise, it’s important to note that Wood’s actual contributions were relatively limited. His goals did not play a decisive role in Newcastle’s survival, as the club ended the season with a total of 49 points. Even without Wood’s goals, Newcastle would have comfortably avoided relegation.
- Newcastle ended the 2021-2022 season with 49 points.
- Wood’s notable goal against Wolves was a penalty, which was not critical to their survival.
Wood’s Departure
After a modest spell at Newcastle, Wood was sold to Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023 following a loan period. His exit marked the end of an underwhelming chapter for the player at St James’ Park.
In summary, while Ghodoussi believes that Newcastle’s £25 million investment in Chris Wood was justified, the actual impact of the player on the team’s performance may not fully align with his perspective.
