The Serbian centre-back was part of FK Jedinstvo Ub’s 2023/24 promotion-winning campaign to the Serbian top-flight via the Championship Round after a second-placed finish, making 25 league appearances, and the 19-year-old has now committed his future to United.
The Novi Sad-born defender, who reached the semi-finals of the European Under-17 Championship with his country in 2022, told newcastleunited.com: “It’s absolutely unbelievable to join such a big club like Newcastle United and I cannot wait to get started. I see the project of the club and it looks great which helped convince me to sign for Newcastle.
“I see the young players have developed very well here and I would like to do the same - to develop and get into Newcastle's first-team. I’m very excited and I can’t wait to begin."
Pivaš began his playing career in Austria, making his senior debut for SV Grödig in the Regionalliga Salzburg - the third tier of Austrian football - as a 16-year-old before arriving at FK Jedinstvo Ub in the summer of 2023.
Already capable of speaking English, conducting his first interview without the assistance of a translator, Pivaš explained his strongest characteristics as a player and his main aims during his spell at St. James' Park.
Pivaš, capped seven times by his country at under-17 level, added: “My best strengths are my pace, being a centre-back, as well as my heading and passing ability.
“I want to start playing for the first-team as soon as possible and show what I can do. I’ve watched a lot of Newcastle's games, they are playing very well and I believe I can play at that level.
“I won promotion last season and it was amazing, getting to the top tier in Serbia. It was an incredible feeling and I learnt a lot playing as a centre-back because of my manager (Ivan Radovanović), who played in Serie A for 15 years and was quite important to me."
Pivaš will be keen to follow in the footsteps of fellow Serbian Aleksandar Mitrović, who scored 17 competitive goals for United during a three-year spell at St. James’ Park, and expressed his admiration for the former Magpies forward as well as a selection of former professionals who excelled in the English top-flight from his native homeland.
Determined to catch the eye of Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe, the highly-rated defender is also hopeful of a positive 2024/25 campaign as well as meeting his new supporters.
“Mitrović is a legend for the people of Serbia and I have watched a lot of his games growing up,” Pivaš said. "He’s still playing very well and I want to try and follow in the steps of the likes of Mitrović as well as Nemanja Vidić and (Branislav) Ivanović who have won the Premier League. I think I can be like that.
“I know Newcastle finished seventh last season, just missing out on European football which was sad, but I hope we can qualify for European competition next season.
“I have also watched the Newcastle fans on TV and they are absolutely amazing. I am looking forward to playing in front of them."
