Jacob Ramsey’s move to Newcastle United was supposed to be a fresh start and a chance to grow into one of the Premier League’s most exciting midfielders. Yet since his £39 million transfer from Aston Villa, the 24-year-old has found himself watching more games from the bench than he ever expected.
His start to life on Tyneside has been quiet, disrupted, and at times frustrating, both for him and for fans who hoped to see him shine immediately.
Ramsey’s only Premier League start for Newcastle came back in August when the team travelled to Leeds United. What was meant to be a positive first step quickly turned into a setback.
He picked up an ankle injury in the first half and had to be withdrawn. That moment changed the early part of his Newcastle career, forcing him to rebuild his fitness instead of settling into the team.
Since then, he has only featured from the start in the Champions League match against Benfica and a Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur. Every other appearance has come from the bench, leaving questions about when he will finally secure a consistent starting role.
Last month, Eddie Howe spoke openly about what Ramsey needs to do to change his role in the squad. The Newcastle manager made it clear that the midfielder’s progress depends heavily on his physical condition.
Howe explained that Ramsey is a talented footballer with strong technical ability, but he needs to be at peak physical fitness before he can play the way Newcastle require.
According to Howe, Ramsey has shown signs of improvement and has benefited from the limited minutes he has been given, but the manager is still waiting for him to hit the level of sharpness needed for the Premier League.
Despite Howe’s encouraging words, his recent team selections tell a different story. Young Lewis Miley has been handed opportunities. Joe Willock has also been trusted more in recent matches.
Yet Ramsey has remained unused, raising concerns about where exactly he fits into Newcastle’s long-term plans. The questions around him continue to grow, especially as the schedule becomes busier.
This weekend, Newcastle return to Premier League action at St James’ Park against Burnley. After that comes a Champions League trip to Bayer Leverkusen, followed by the heated Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland.
With three intense matches in a short space of time, Howe will need to rotate his squad. These upcoming fixtures could finally give Ramsey the opportunity he has been waiting for.
When asked again about Ramsey’s limited game time, Howe clarified that the midfielder is still in the process of adapting. He explained that Ramsey is learning the team’s tactical demands and working his way back to full physical readiness.
Howe spoke highly of him, calling him calm, composed, and creative qualities that become clearer as he regains confidence and match sharpness. According to Howe, the ankle injury he suffered at Leeds left him further behind than people realised, and much of his work since then has been about catching up and rebuilding strength.
The story of Ramsey’s move to Newcastle isn’t just about footballing decisions; it also reflects the financial pressures facing modern Premier League clubs. His departure from Aston Villa was felt deeply in the Midlands because he was one of their most promising academy products. For many Villa fans, he represented a local dream a talented young player rising through the club’s system and becoming a fan favourite.
However, Aston Villa’s director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, revealed that keeping Ramsey had become impossible. Speaking on BBC Radio WM, Vidagany said the club tried for a full year to extend Ramsey’s contract, which was set to expire in 2027.
The negotiations went nowhere, and Villa were faced with a difficult decision. If they allowed him to continue without signing a new deal, they risked losing him for far less money or even on a free transfer in the future.
Vidagany explained that as painful as the decision was, selling him was the most sensible choice. Newcastle’s £39 million offer was too good to turn down under the circumstances. He admitted that Ramsey’s exit was emotional because the midfielder embodied everything a local academy player should represent.
But in modern football, emotional ties cannot override financial realities. Villa needed to make a tough business decision, and Newcastle were ready to take the opportunity.
Now, the focus shifts back to Ramsey and how he responds. Newcastle believe in his long-term potential. Howe continues to praise his attitude and improvement even if he has not yet become a regular starter.
As the fixtures pile up and rotation becomes unavoidable, Ramsey may finally get the chance to show the qualities that persuaded Newcastle to invest so heavily in him.
The next few weeks could be the turning point in his journey. Whether he seizes that moment will determine how quickly he can silence the doubts and build the Newcastle career so many expected him to have.
