Newcastle transfer news: Magpies set to complete £8.5m Chancel Mbemba signing despite uncertainty over his real age

Newcastle believe Mbemba is 20 years old but reports suggest the could be as old as 27

Chancel Mbemba is on the verge of joining Newcastle (Getty Images)

Newcastle are on the verge of sealing their third signing of the summer in the form of Anderlecht defender Chancel Mbemba, but reports suggest that the Congolese international could be anywhere between 20 to 27 years old.

Having completed the £12.5m signing of Mbemba’s former Anderlecht team-mate Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Magpies are ready to swoop for another star of the Belgian Jupiler League.

It’s believed that the Tyneside club rate £8.5m-rated Mbemba as one of the best defenders currently playing in Belgium, having developed during his time with E.S La Grace, Mputu and MK Etancheite before joining Anderlecht in 2012.

But according to the Daily Mail, Newcastle are signing the defender on the premise that Mbemba is 20 years old, despite reports suggesting he may be older.

Mbemba has made seven appearances for Congo (Getty Images)

Having started his career in Congo, his birth date was registered as 8 August 1988, which would make the defender 27, but when he joined Anderlecht three years ago his birth date was altered to 8 August 1995.

During the qualification stage for the 2012 African Cup of Nations, Mbemba was registered by his nation as being born on 30 November 1991, and the player himself has confirmed in an interview that he was born around 1990 which would make him 25.

However, the club are believed to be relaxed over the situation and it will not lead to the deal collapsing, meaning the club are on course to land their third signing this summer after the completed deals of Mitrovic and Netherlands international Georginio Wijnaldum.