ˈæftɚ stˈɑːɹɾɪŋ hɪz klˈʌb kɚɹˈɪɹ ɪn hɪz nˈeɪɾɪv swˈɪtsɚlənd, hiː hˈɛdᵻd fɔːɹ ˈɪŋɡlənd ˌɔn wˈʌn ˈɔːɡəst nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹ tə sˈaɪn fɔːɹ pɹəmˈɪɹ lˈiːɡ sˈaɪd nˈuːkæsəl juːnˈaɪɾᵻd ɪn ɐ pˈaʊnd fˈaɪvhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti fˈaɪv,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ dˈiːl.
After starting his club career in his native Switzerland, he headed for England on 1 August 1994 to sign for Premier League side Newcastle United in a £525,000 deal.