Kieran Trippier has been a game-changing signing for Newcastle United.

When the reign of Mike Ashley as owner at St. James' Park came to an end in October 2021, Toon fans were baying for the sort of marquee signings that seemed to be an inevitability under the guidance of a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

The dizzying rumours of poaching players like Kylian Mbappe might have been wholly unrealistic, but Newcastle nevertheless made their ambitions clear to the world by snapping up Trippier just six months after he won La Liga with Atletico Madrid.

What impact has Trippier had at Newcastle?

At the time, Trippier was prematurely criticised for the move with Newcastle still fighting against relegation, but his move has since proven to be a masterstroke as the north-east giants now find themselves sitting in third place in the Premier League standings.

And Newcastle's superb new manager Eddie Howe knows better than anyone just how talismanic Trippier's arrival has been within the club's rise from dodging the drop to the Championship and competing for Champions League football.

The England international has thrived under Howe's leadership with three goals and two assists in the Premier League, as well as a superb seven clean sheets from just 15 appearances in the competition this season.

It obviously goes without saying that the arrivals of Bruno Guimarães, Dan Burn and more have also been critical to Newcastle's resurgence under Howe, but there's no denying that Trippier leading the way with his big move on January 7 felt like a watershed moment.

Trippier celebrates scoring for Newcastle.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Manchester City - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - August 21, 2022 Newcastle United's Kieran Trippier celebrates scoring their third goal Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Read more: The High Performance Podcast hub

What did Howe say about signing Trippier?

And while speaking to Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes as part of a fascinating appearance on the High Performance Podcast, Howe was able to shed light on exactly why the move for Trippier was such a key moment for the club.

Howe explained that signing leaders was Newcastle's priority as they sought to avoid the new ownership's first full season taking place in the Championship.

The 44-year-old reflected with typical eloquence: "I think at the time when we signed Kieran in January, we were trying to sign leaders. So relegation battle, very, very difficult situation we were in.

"We felt we couldn't sign players for the future. It was for the here and now, and it was trying to generate a team spirit in the group that will be so strong that that will carry us over the line.

Full video: Eddie Howe speaks on the High Performance Podcast

"So Kieran, you know, had worked with him at Burnley, I knew about him and his background and the fact he'd gone on to have a brilliant career is down to his leadership and his attitude.

"So him, Dan Burn, Chris Wood, all experienced players, but had that leadership quality in them. And I've got to say they did a brilliant job in the dressing room and just in terms of, it was already good, but the feeling, just gluing it together and making it stronger."

Given the inspiring nature of Trippier's move to St. James' Park within the context of Newcastle's game-changing shift in owners, it wouldn't be dramatic to say that it's a transfer which changed the direction of the club forever.

While no doubt Toon would have secured a high-profile signing with their new-found riches even if Trippier had rejected them, the simple fact of the matter is that he did say 'yes' and in doing so, he helped sparked the chain reaction which has led to Newcastle's incredible run.

Trippier on the ball for Newcastle.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Chelsea - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - November 12, 2022 Newcastle United's Kieran Trippier in action Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Which signings have changed clubs forever?

As such, in light of the Eureka moment that was Trippier's arrival, we started thinking about other turning-point signings in football history where the capture of a single player helped to set the wheels in motion for a club's fortunes forever.

Some instances are far more dramatic than Trippier to Newcastle and others are just as nuanced, but the moral of the story doesn't change, so be sure to check out 12 examples of watershed signings after which nothing was ever the same.

1. Sergio Aguero to Manchester City

Vincent Kompany came very close to occupying this slot as his impact at City was similar to that of Trippier's at Newcastle, but with his transfer transpiring just before Sheikh Mansour's takeover was completed, we're instead turning to Aguero.

Yaya Toure and David Silva might have opened the door for more world-class players to come through the door the previous summer, but it was the instant impact of Aguero that finally pushed City over the line into Premier League title contention - changing the club forever.

The Citizens became champions of England for the first time in decades thanks to his iconic goal against Queens Park Rangers as well as a superb tally of 30 strikes throughout the season.

Aguero scores for Man City.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Burnley - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - October 21, 2017 Manchester City's Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

2. Eric Cantona to Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson just needed that little bit of magic dust to finally win his first English top-flight title at Old Trafford, and boy did Cantona provide that flash of genius by moving from reigning champions Leeds United to make the difference.

The Red Devils had won just one of their last eight Premier League games when Cantona arrived, but his charismatic impact culminated in United winning the league and Ferguson establishing a dynasty that may never be seen again in English football.

3. Alisson Becker to Liverpool

There's certainly an argument to be made that Virgil van Dijk could occupy this slot, but your humble GIVEMESPORT writer believes that it was the acquisition of a truly world-class goalkeeper that truly changed the game for Jurgen Klopp's Reds.

Before Alisson, the German's reign on Merseyside had reaped zero trophies and culminated in Loris Karius' infamous performance in Kyiv, but with Alisson, Liverpool won the Champions League, Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Carabao Cup and FA Cup.

Alisson warms up for Liverpool.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Everton - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - April 24, 2022 Liverpool's Alisson during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid

When Ronaldo completed his world-record move to the Bernabeu in 2009, Los Blancos were failing desperately in their attempts to secure La Decima having recently exited the Champions League in the round of 16, paling in comparison to Pep Guardiola's Barcelona.

But Ronaldo's arrival changed everything as he inspired Real to four European Cups in just five yeas, winning four Ballon d'Or titles and scoring a barely believable 450 goals in just 438 games in the famous white jersey to rewrite the club's modern history.

5. Diego Maradona to Napoli

Arguably the most game-changing game-changer on the list, Maradona arrived at a Napoli side which had never won a Serie A title in its history and had just finished one point above the relegation zone the previous season.

However, the rest - as they say - is history with Maradona becoming a God-like figure in Naples to the point that their stadium is now named after him having inspired the club to what remains their only two Scudettos. The stuff of legend.

Maradona celebrates scoring for Napoli.

NAPLES, ITALY - MAY 01: Diego Maradona of Napoli celebrates a goal during an Italian Serie A match against AC Milan at the San Paolo Stadium in May 1988 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive)

6. Petr Cech to Chelsea

Again, there's room for debate here because some would argue that Didier Drogba changed the game to a greater extent for Chelsea, but in terms of the first instant-impact signing that was made in the Roman Abramovich era, it has to be Cech.

It was Cech's arrival at Stamford Bridge that truly solidified Chelsea's first top-flight title in 50 years as he collected a record-breaking 24 clean sheets and went 1,000 minutes without conceding in a Blues side that shipped just 13(!!!) league goals.

7. Alfedo Di Stéfano to Real Madrid

A game-changer in so many ways with the very nature of Di Stefano's arrival stirring up El Clasico rivalry more than ever as Barcelona seemed set to sign the future Ballon d'Or winner, only for him to end up in the hands of Los Blancos.

And Di Stéfano's impact was the stuff of legend as he propelled Real into their obsession with the European Cup, leading them to victory in the first five editions of the competition, scoring in each final and leaving the club as their all-time record goalscorer.

8. Dennis Bergkamp to Arsenal

Bruce Rioch's time at Highbury might not be remembered fondly by Gooners, but they'll always go a little easier on their single-season manager for the fact that he signed Bergkamp: the perfect player upon which Arsene Wenger could build his revolution.

Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira would later put the icing on the cake as Arsenal won three Premier League titles in six years, but it was the indescribable footballing genius of Bergkamp that proved to be the primer for that golden era.

Bergkamp scores for Arsenal at Highbury.

30 Sep 1997: Dennis Bergkamp of Arsenal celebrates a goal during the UEFA Cup first round second leg match against Paok Salonika at Highbury in London. The match was drawn 1-1 and Paok Salonika went through 2-1 on goal difference. \ Mandatory Credit: Mike Hewitt /Allsport

9. N'Golo Kante to Leicester City

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez had been at the King Power Stadium when their return to the Premier League almost instantly self-destructed in a pitiful relegation, so it was the arrival of Mr. Kante that truly changed Leicester's fortunes forever.

By way of proving the difference at the base of Claudio Ranieri's midfield with a string of virtuoso performances, Kante was able to trigger a magical chain reaction that culminated in one of the biggest upsets that sport has ever seen.

10. Ronaldinho to Barcelona

While it wasn't until Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi started spreading their magic that Barcelona truly reached their peak in the 21st century, it was the game-changing acquisition of Ronaldinho that helped to resurrect the club from their woes of the early 2000s.

Arriving on the back of a catastrophic 2002/03 which had seen Barca beached in 15th place in La Liga after 20 games, Ronaldinho took just three years to inspire the club to only their second Champions League title - and even won a Ballon d'Or along the way.

Ronaldinho celebrates at Barcelona.

FC Barcelona's Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho celebrates after scoring the first goal against Espanyol during their Spanish first division match at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium May 2, 2004. REUTERS/Albert Gea GN/GB

11. Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit to AC Milan

A double signing of soon-to-be European champions with the Netherlands, Silvio Berlusconi took a massive step towards ending Milan's drought of just one Scudetto in 20 years by snapping up a pair of future club legends in one.

The Rossoneri won Serie A in their first season with the Dutch duo before winning another two league crowns and a pair of European Cups to secure a bountiful era in which Van Basten plundered three Ballon d'Or titles in four years.

12. Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Paris Saint-Germain

We're finishing things off with another signing that has a lot of similarities to Trippier's Newcastle move, even if the England man himself would happily concede that his game doesn't have much in common with the notorious Zlatan.

Along with the arrival of Thiago Silva, Ibrahimovic's move to Paris in the summer of 2012 marked the first major signing of Nasser Al-Khelaifi's reign and immediately led to their first Ligue 1 title since the mid-1990s.

Ibrahimovic's outrageous finishing, which saw him leave the club four years later as their all-time record goalscorer, helped PSG to establish themselves as the dominant force in France and Europe that we know today.

Zlatan scores for PSG in 2013.

Football - Paris Saint Germain v FC Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final First Leg - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - 2/4/13

Paris Saint Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring their first goal

Mandatory Credit: Action Images / John Sibley

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What now for Trippier, Howe and Newcastle?

Don't panic, we're not saying that Trippier to Newcastle had quite the same impact as Maradona to Napoli, but both signings nevertheless reside within the same strata of signings that kicked major change in motion for a club.

And the exciting part as far as Howe's thrilling project at Newcastle is concerned is that the full extent of the change kick-started by the new ownership and Trippier's gamble is yet to become apparent.

Who knows whether or not Newcastle will be playing in the Champions League or competing for the Premier League title over the next few years as so many of the most optimistic Geordies in the Gallowgate End are imagining.

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Either way, though, there's no escaping the fact that Trippier's trust in Howe's fantastic work in the north-east has changed the game at St. James' Park, paving the way for other key signings and further successes that continue to unfold before our eyes.

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