Medical booked – Newcastle United transfer imminent for £50k/wk player
Newcastle United are set to pocket £15 million from Leeds United as Sean Longstaff prepares to leave his boyhood club.
The midfielder is currently undergoing a medical ahead of the transfer, marking the end of an emotional chapter in his career. Longstaff, a North Shields native, has been part of Newcastle since the age of nine and now looks to embrace a fresh start in pursuit of regular first-team football.
His journey with the Magpies has been anything but linear. Under Steve Bruce’s tenure, Longstaff’s confidence diminished, and his future at St James’ Park looked bleak.
Everton even submitted a modest £1 million bid for his services in 2022, a clear indicator of how far his stock had fallen. But Eddie Howe’s arrival reignited his career. The midfielder transformed into a key player, embodying the resurgence that Newcastle experienced under Howe’s management.
During the 2022/23 season, Longstaff played a significant role as Newcastle secured a fourth-place finish and Champions League qualification.
One of his most memorable contributions came when he netted the third goal in the 4-1 demolition of Paris Saint-Germain — a night that will be etched in the club’s modern history.
Other highlights included featuring in the heated derby win over Sunderland and scoring twice to guide Newcastle to a Wembley final.
However, competition in midfield has become increasingly intense. With Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães, and Joelinton establishing themselves, Longstaff found minutes hard to come by.
He hasn’t started a Premier League game since December, and even Eddie Howe, who had long praised his professionalism, admitted his future was uncertain. In a rare public hint, Howe acknowledged that while Longstaff remained committed behind the scenes, the path ahead was unclear.
Now 27, Longstaff is ready for a new chapter. The move to Leeds, which includes performance-based add-ons, is seen as a win-win.
Newcastle rejected multiple lower bids before settling on a deal that benefits both the player and the club. Importantly, the transfer income is registered as pure profit in Newcastle’s books, as Longstaff is a homegrown product.
The player himself preferred to move for a fee rather than let his contract run down, ensuring his departure helps fund the club’s ambitions.
Yet, the transfer presents a significant complication for Newcastle in European competition. UEFA regulations require clubs to include at least four “club-trained” players — those who came through the academy — over the age of 21 in their European squads.
Failing that, teams must sacrifice one spot per missing player. Longstaff was the only eligible senior academy graduate, and with Lewis Miley still too young, Newcastle will now enter the Champions League with a reduced 21-man squad, unless another club-trained player steps up or is registered.
Despite this drawback, the transfer aligns with Longstaff’s desire for regular football and Newcastle’s need to reshape the squad while staying financially compliant.
His departure signals the end of a local hero’s long association with the club, but also opens the door for a new generation to emerge.