Bazoumana Toure arrived at Newcastle United with a smile that has become his trademark, completing a £43 million move from Hoffenheim as one of the Premier League's most exciting young signings.
For those who know the 20-year-old Ivory Coast international best, that smile is no surprise.
Former Hammarby team-mate Nahir Besara says Toure's positive attitude has remained constant throughout his rapid rise.
"It doesn't matter if it is a good day or a bad day," Besara recalled.
"He always walks into the dressing room smiling and ready to work."
The transfer caps an extraordinary journey for Toure, whose ambition of playing in the Premier League has become reality in just a few years.
He joined Swedish club Hammarby in 2024 before earning a move to Hoffenheim a year later. After only 18 months in Germany, he was on a private jet bound for Tyneside.
Despite his meteoric rise, Toure has remained grounded. Besara revealed the youngster's generosity shortly before leaving Sweden.
"The day before he left Hammarby, he sent me money as a gift," Besara said.
"I sent it back, but it was an incredible gesture. He wanted to thank me for helping him, but I felt I should be thanking him for everything he did for our club. He's someone I'll never forget."
Newcastle have identified Toure as the ideal replacement for Anthony Gordon, who joined Barcelona in June for £69.3 million.
The Magpies had been frustrated in their search for a new left winger after Victor Munoz opted to sign for Liverpool instead of moving to St James' Park.
The need to strengthen became even greater after agreeing to sell midfielder Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth up to £100 million, creating valuable financial flexibility to reinforce multiple areas of the squad.
Toure perfectly matches Newcastle's recruitment strategy.
Young, ambitious and eager to play for the club, he offers both immediate potential and long-term value after several transfer disappointments over the past year.
Hammarby sporting director Mikael Hjelmberg, the man responsible for bringing Toure to Europe, believes his personality is just as impressive as his talent.
"I fell in love with him the first time I watched him at ASEC Mimosas," Hjelmberg said.
"It's his personality. He's always smiling and always positive."
Toure's attacking qualities were evident throughout his time at Hoffenheim.
During the 2025-26 Bundesliga season, he ranked first among forwards for successful crosses (39), joint-second for assists (nine), joint-third for completed dribbles (48), fourth for chances created (45), and fourth for big chances created (11).
However, those close to him insist his willingness to learn is what truly sets him apart.
"You can see his speed, his ability on the ball and how hard he works," Besara said.
"What impressed me most was how quickly he could take instructions from coaches and immediately apply them on the pitch."
He recalled one memorable example during their time together at Hammarby.
"Our coach told him the day before a match, 'Bazou, I want you attacking the near post for headers.' He'd never scored a header before, then went out and scored two in the next game. He's incredibly adaptable."
That tactical intelligence has also helped him become a more complete player.
In his final Bundesliga campaign, Toure won 152 duels and regained possession 127 times, highlighting his commitment without the ball.
The Premier League will provide the toughest test of Toure's career.
While blessed with pace, creativity and work rate, he still has areas to improve, particularly his finishing, and will need time to adapt to the physical demands of English football and Eddie Howe's tactical system.
Fortunately, adapting quickly has become a habit throughout his young career.
Besara has no doubt his former team-mate will thrive on Tyneside.
"I know he will be really successful," he said.
"Mark my words."
