AFTER months of speculation, Lloyd Kelly's next destination was confirmed this week, as he joins Newcastle United on a free transfer.

The defender made 141 appearances for Cherries, having joined from Bristol City in 2019.

Speaking to Newcastle's club media in a lengthy interview, Kelly has explained his reasoning behind leaving Cherries, reflecting on his spell as captain, and why he opted for Newcastle, touching upon his chats with Eddie Howe and Callum Wilson.

Q: Lloyd, you are Newcastle United's first signing of the summer? How does it feel?

LK: It feels good. I think coming to a club like this is exciting. And to be honest, I just can't wait to get settled and meet all the boys and obviously join up for pre-season.

Q: You’ve met a few of the boys and the management team brought you to Bournemouth five years ago. How good is it to be reunited with them?

LK: It’s a good feeling. I think when you've got people that you know already, it kind of makes you feel a little bit more settled and at ease. I know some of the players and of course the manager, the gaffer.

So I think in that sense it's a nice feeling to kind of go into a new place, but at the same time you kind of get that feeling that you're kind of home at the same time, you know?

Q: I read an interview with you when you spoke about how Eddie Howe sold Bournemouth to you five years ago, when you were moving from Bristol City. What has he said to you this time around, to tell you where he sees you fitting in?

LK: Newcastle as a whole, everyone kind of knows kind of the back story and how big the club is. But for me to come here, speaking to the gaffer, I mean, I didn't really need to take much.

The gaffer knows how highly I think of him and the way he kind of shapes his teams and wants his teams to play, I think it kind of suits my attributes. So it kind of just made sense.

Eddie Howe has signed Lloyd Kelly for a second time (Image: Richard Crease)

Q: Back then he was taking you from the Championship to the Premier League and sort of helping you to get to the next level. Is that sort of the case again? Is that how you see it?

LK: Yes, I think so. When I moved from the Championship into the Premier League, I was still so young. Although we only had a year together, it kind of felt that it was kind of unfinished. I think the way he has seen different players over the years and he’s helped develop players, I’m excited to start this journey and see where it goes.

Q: Who else have you spoken to about this move?

LK: A few of the players that I knew from previous. You’ve got Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes, who I played in the England set-up with. Those two players were the people I contacted.

Q: Jonathan Woodgate is one of the best defenders to play for Newcastle, he described you as a Rolls-Royce. Eddie Howe has called you a deep thinker of the game and an unbelievable specimen. How would you describe yourself?

LK: I'll take those compliments, for sure! I think the way I view myself is someone who's calm, composed, wants to play with the ball, wants the ball. But at the same time, I think my defensive qualities come to light throughout the games. I enjoy that one-v-one defending.

I think there's a bit of a balance there of being able to defend and of course, be comfortable with the ball. I want to be able to step out and play and kind of show what I can do with the ball as well. So I think there’s a balance there.

Q: Of course you know what you what Eddie Howe wants from his defenders, but you must also have a little inkling of what Newcastle fans like from their defenders, in terms of they like defenders who can play on the front foot and bring the ball out of defence. There is a bit of history of players doing that.

LK: Maybe in the last year or so watching Newcastle games, you see a team that want to be progressive. They want to be on the front foot. So I think it kind of it suits my style.

Q: Your main position is centre-back, but you can play left-back as well. How big is that versatility for you?

LK: I think it's massive. Over the years, I think you’ve seen it in big clubs throughout the Premier League, managers changing that style of that left-back role in being kind of an up-and-down attacking full-back. It’s starting to change a little bit, where managers will be playing centre-halves in that left-back role. So I think being able to play those two roles definitely helps my game for sure.

And being able to understand those two positions as well. I think when I do play centre-half, I kind of already know what the left back wants. And then vice versa.

Lloyd Kelly with the Championship promotion trophyLloyd Kelly with the Championship promotion trophy (Image: Stuart Martin)

Q: You've been the captain, named captain of Bournemouth at 22 years old, and have done it a lot of times since then. So how much is that brought you on? How much has that developed you as a person and how much do you think that can help you coming into Newcastle?

LK: That was a big season for me. Going into that season, it was a big year and we wanted to get promoted back into the Premier League. The manager then giving me that captaincy, for sure it was a big thing.

But I took it in my stride and I always see myself, even without the captain’s armband, being someone who is a leader and setting an example. Making people see this is the path to go down in terms of doing the right things on a day-to-day basis. I think it was a massive year for me. Not only the football side, it was also the mental side as well. It was a big year, for sure.

Q: How much of those sort of leadership qualities that you do have do you think have been shaped by maybe your background, your life story? Because you've certainly not had it easy. You've had a quite inspirational journey to get to where you are.

LK: Definitely my childhood, kind of growing up throughout the foster care system has definitely shaped who I am a person. I think it definitely made me grow up a lot faster than maybe some other children would do and things like that.

Kind of that mental side of having that toughness, being able to go through things and getting out the other side and finding ways to kind of get through different situations. It's definitely shaped my mentality. It’s definitely a positive.

Q: In football, there’s always ups and downs and tough times. But you’ve really got something to put everything in perspective, haven’t you?

LK: Yeah, for sure. It's kind of that perspective side of things. Even when you're in a tough position, you can always kind of find a way to get out of it and stick with the process.

Q: It's obviously a big move to make. You've always been down south, you’re now very much moving to the north east. I suppose it’s water off a duck’s back, with everything you've been through?

LK: Yeah that's true. From when I first joined Bournemouth, being down south and then pretty much the other end of England now. I think the distance thing for me, there's never been a thought in my mind of a negative. It was more the place and the club and the supporters and things like that. Everything's just falling into place.

Q: The city is different to Bournemouth in many ways, but it's got so much going for it. How much do you know about the city and surrounding areas, the beaches, the attractions that are here?

LK: I've spoken to a few people. Everyone told me that everyone is super friendly up north, and it's a nice city to live. I think you've got the contrast between kind of the city life, and then you've got the country as well. So it's good for the dogs as well, so I'll take that!

Kelly after the last home game of the season against BrentfordKelly after the last home game of the season against Brentford (Image: Richard Crease)

Q: You've had another new arrival in the family as well recently. How has fatherhood been for you? How has that changed your life?

LK: It’s been amazing. Speaking to people before my son was here, I was hearing a lot of the same things. But everyone was saying you don’t know until he’s actually here. The feeling is just amazing.  I think it’s just another thing that brings everything into perspective. Even on your down days, you wake up and you just see him smiling, it makes you feel better.

Q: How exciting is it for the whole family now to start this new life in Newcastle?

LK: Everyone’s looking forward to it. It’s going to be an exciting time for sure. Once everything is settled and, we find a place, once that is sorted, then we'll be able to enjoy it.

Q: Obviously it is happening very early in the transfer window as well. How big a positive do you see that as, in terms of getting settled and being able to report for pre-season fully ready to go?

LK: It's massive. That’s my number one priority at the moment, getting settled somewhere, putting that at ease and then focusing on pre-season. I want to be able to come to pre-season 100 per cent fit physically and mentally ready as well.

Q: In terms of aspirations personally and for the club, what do they look like over the next year, but also beyond that?

LK: I think personally, of course, it's a big step. But at the same time I'm ready to take on the challenge. Next season for the club, Champions League football is something that I know the fans will probably want to get back to. Watching the games from before, it seemed crazy.

Then being able to finish higher in the league as well.