Newcastle United have taken another important step in strengthening their long-term vision, securing highly respected scout Thomas Federspiel in what is Ross Wilson’s first major move since becoming the club’s sporting director.
It is a significant signing behind the scenes and one that signals Newcastle’s growing ambition to build a smarter, wider and more efficient global recruitment operation as they look toward 2026 and beyond.
Federspiel arrives from Nottingham Forest, where he had been part of a recruitment setup that found success in markets many Premier League clubs have overlooked. His appointment reunites him with Ross Wilson, who played a key role in bringing him to Tyneside after previously working with him and knowing exactly what he brings to a modern scouting structure.
The 60-year-old began his new role earlier this week and will focus on first-team scouting, along with identifying emerging talent across Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia.
This move shows exactly where Newcastle want to expand: into South America, a region rich with potential and increasingly important for top-level recruitment.
Federspiel is not a newcomer to elite scouting. His résumé spans decades and includes spells at top Bundesliga clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
His deep experience across Europe and South America gives Newcastle a unique blend of insight, connections and understanding of markets that often deliver world-class footballers at affordable prices.
His year at Nottingham Forest also proved valuable, as he witnessed firsthand how clever scouting in Brazil helped Forest bring in standout players for relatively low fees.
Forest have enjoyed particular success in South America recently, especially with the signing of Murillo from Corinthians in 2023. The defender arrived for just £15 million and quickly became one of the most talked-about young centre-backs in the league.
Alongside Murillo, Forest also snapped up talents like Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus, proving that there is enormous value waiting for clubs willing to look beyond the Premier League bubble. Newcastle clearly want to follow that path, and Federspiel’s arrival is a strong message that the club intend to deepen their reach into these highly competitive markets.
Speaking to the media earlier this week, Ross Wilson explained openly why expanding the club’s scouting network is essential. He stressed that Newcastle cannot rely solely on the Premier League market, where transfer prices are often inflated and the competition for players is fierce.
Instead, he believes the club must cast a wider net to find value, uncover hidden gems and identify players before they become too expensive or too famous for a realistic deal.
Wilson highlighted that the club have already started to grow their recruitment team since his arrival, but the plan is to push even further.
He suggested that while Premier League talent will always be a target, more attractive opportunities often exist elsewhere particularly in regions where the transfer market is less saturated and prices are more reasonable.
His message was clear: Newcastle want to be proactive, not reactive, and want to build a recruitment strategy that is sustainable, forward-thinking and much broader than in previous years.
The arrival of Federspiel marks an important moment in that journey. It shows that Newcastle are not only thinking about big-money signings but also about building the infrastructure needed to discover, evaluate and secure top talent long before rivals move in.
As the club continues to evolve under new leadership, this appointment signals a commitment to smarter scouting, global reach and long-term planning key ingredients for any club aiming to compete at the highest level without overspending.
Newcastle’s growing presence in South America could shape the next generation of success on Tyneside, and Thomas Federspiel’s expertise may turn out to be one of the smartest signings the club makes this year.
