Newcastle United's Inaugural Summer Signings In The Mike Ashley Era - Ranked Worst To Best

It may have been 335 days since Newcastle last signed a player, but the arrival of Georginio Wijnaldum from PSV Eindhoven for £14.5 million was certainly worth the wait for supporters, who were standing on the precipice of insurrection over the club's grave lack of ambition and unyielding obedience to Mike Ashley's frugal but inhibitive recruitment model.

Not since completing a double deal for Nottingham Forest duo Karl Darlow and Jamal Lascelles on 9th August last year, had the Magpies delved into the transfer market, so the deal for Wijnaldum was a change of direction welcomed by an emboldened fanbase and a testament to Ashley's pledge of recurrent investment.

The Dutch international, who incidentally became the third most expensive signing in Newcastle history and the largest outlay in the Ashley era, was swiftly followed by the acquisition of Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic for £13 million and his team-mate Chancel Mbemba, the 20-year-old centre-back costing £7.5 million - that's three of Europe's most coveted stars recruited for just over £30 million. 

The purchase of Wijnaldum, however, ultimately set the tone, as any inaugural summer signing should, for what was to follow and, up to now, Newcastle's "football board" have well and truly delivered, the 24-year-old adding his name to an illustrious cast of heroes and villains who can attest to being the club's first shot across the recruitment bow.

With that in mind, WhatCulture.com/NUFC has ranked each of the nine summer signings, including Wijnaldum, to arrive first through the ever revolving door at St James' Park during Ashley's tenure.

• Arrived: 21 May 2012 from Dijon FCO

• Fee Paid: Free Transfer

• Left: 1 July 2014 for Reims

• Fee Received: Free Transfer

• Apps: 5

• Goals: 0

Joining on a free transfer from French club Stade de Reims , Amalfitano was one of only two permanent additions made by Newcastle in the 2012 summer transfer, the other being Vurnon Anita, as the Magpies hierarchy neglected to strengthen in numbers nor heavily tamper with the squad that achieved a fifth-placed finish the season prior.

Managing a solitary start and four substitute appearances, all in the Europa League, Amalfitano's brief and unremarkable career at Newcastle amounted to just 159 minutes of pitch time, spending the majority of his first year on the payroll at St James' Park appearing in the under-21 squad before being loaned to Ligue 2 outfit Dijon FCO for the 2013/14 season.

He made that move permanent last summer, playing 28 times as the French minnows finished fourth, narrowly missing out on promotion to Ligue 1.