Newcastle United completed their fifth signing of the January transfer window in the 11th hour with the arrival of Dan Burn from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth around £13million.
The Blyth-born defender was the Magpies' second addition on deadline day, penning a two-and-a-half year deal after Aston Villa's Matt Targett made the switch on loan until the end of the season.
It was clear that Newcastle needed to add another centre-back given the club's dismal record this season, conceding the second-most amount of goals in the Premier League with 43 from 21 matches.
Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood had made the move from Atletico Madrid and Burnley earlier in the month, before Bruno Guimaraes joined for £33million plus add ons from Ligue 1 side Lyon.
Newcastle currently sit inside the bottom three, just a point behind 17th-place Norwich City heading into the final 17 matches and Eddie Howe will be hoping his new arrivals, including Burn, can help steer the Magpies to safety.
Having impressed at the heart of the Brighton defence this season, Burn is arguably in the form of his life and has been a high-quality performer in the top-flight.
There were some concerns about whether the 29-year-old could make the step up from the Championship when he moved to the Seagulls from Wigan Athletic in 2018, but he has proved those doubters wrong.
In his first two campaigns at Brighton, Burn made 66 appearances and was an integral part of Graham Potter's side which finished just above the relegation zone.
However, Burn has taken his game to a new level this term and has been one of the Seagulls' most consistent performers, playing as the left centre-back in a four-man defence following injuries to Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy.
He has also filled in at left-back and on the left of a back-three, demonstrating his versitility and he is capable to adapt whenever Howe needs him to.
A dominant defender, Burn has made 22 successful tackles this season, averaging 1.94 per-game, while he has also blocked 10 shots and recorded 24 interceptions.
In just 13 league matches, he made 47 clearances and 24 interceptions, forming a solid defensive partnership with Adam Webster, who was also linked with a move to Tyneside in January.
Arguably Burn's best attribute is his quality in the air, having won 60% of his aeriel duels (32/56) this season, scoring once with his head in the 3-2 win over Everton last month.
In possession, he has proven that he can play out from the back with Potter's style of football at Brighton, averaging a 87% short pass success rate and Howe will be demanding the same level in his Newcastle side.
Burn will compete with Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark and Federico Fernandez for two centre-back spots should Howe still with his 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 formation.
Lascelles and Schar started the Magpies' 1-0 win over Leeds United on January 23 and Burn will be looking to break up that partnership and force his way into the XI.
The 6'7" defender could make his Newcastle debut when they take on Everton at St James' Park on Tuesday, February 8.
