‘My next move’ – Newcastle United forward admits he could leave the club this summer

As the 2024–25 season winds down, Garang Kuol has impressed with eight goals in just 13 appearances for Newcastle United’s Under-21 squad. Despite his strong performances, a senior team debut appears unlikely, with manager Eddie Howe favoring 17-year-old Sean Neave in the training squad.

Although Kuol has developed well on Tyneside, the club’s current direction suggests that his path to the first team remains blocked—at least for now.

The plan is to send Kuol out on loan once more during the upcoming summer window. His contract with Newcastle runs through June 2026, but with limited chances to break into the senior squad, the club seems prepared to facilitate another temporary move.

Kuol, who represented Australia in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and became one of the youngest players to appear in a knockout stage match, has made it clear that his main goal is to return to senior football.

His experience on the global stage at such a young age shaped his aspirations. After competing against seasoned professionals on the world’s biggest platform, the ambition to play senior-level football regularly has only grown stronger.

Although he values the development opportunities provided by Newcastle’s Under-21 setup, he’s eager for a step up—a challenge that mirrors his international experience.

During a recent interview with ESPN, Kuol openly acknowledged the gap between youth-level football and the standards of a Premier League first-team squad. He expressed his awareness of the challenges involved in making that leap, especially within a club competing for European football.

“The most important thing for me is to be able to play senior football,” he explained. “It won’t be that easy to jump from the Under-21s at Newcastle to a first-team squad which could be in the Champions League. For the summer, I’m not really sure what’s going to happen in terms of my next move. But I’d say senior football is the ultimate goal.”

His honesty underscores the steep competition he faces within the senior setup. The formidable form of Alexander Isak, who has netted 25 goals this season, highlights the level Kuol would need to reach to earn a spot.

And it’s not just Isak—Callum Wilson, Anthony Gordon, and Will Osula provide further firepower in attack, creating even fewer opportunities for academy forwards to break through.

During preseason training, Kuol got a close-up view of what separates elite players from those still climbing the ranks. He trained alongside Isak and was struck by the Swedish international’s technical ability, movement, and physical presence.

“I was training with [Isak] in preseason. He was just so silky and so comfortable with the ball. And so quick. You can’t really get the ball off him. He’s just so hard to stop,” Kuol admitted.

That firsthand exposure to Premier League-level talent gave him valuable insight into what’s required to compete at the top level. Kuol emphasized that physical conditioning, intensity, and work ethic are the baseline standards for any first-team player at Newcastle.

For academy prospects like himself, every training session is a test of endurance and commitment. “The main thing that every Newcastle first-team player has is the fitness and the physicality, which is what’s most important. When us young players train with the EPL side, it’s sort of a rude awakening of the physical demands that comes in training,” he said.

Even basic drills, according to Kuol, can be physically taxing. The jump in intensity from youth to senior training is stark. “Even just a simple positioning drill, you get tired within a minute and it’s just the intensity and the work rate you have to apply and train every day.”

Kuol’s awareness, maturity, and hunger for senior football suggest a player who understands both the challenge ahead and the work required to meet it. While Newcastle may not offer immediate opportunities, his ambitions remain undeterred.

A summer move could provide the platform he needs to showcase his ability at the senior level, reigniting the momentum he built on the international stage. Whether it’s in the Premier League or abroad, Kuol seems determined to make the leap from promising academy talent to consistent first-team contributor.