Newcastle United agree first summer signing – set to be made official next week

Newcastle United appear to be wasting no time in shaping their future, having already secured their first signing ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

According to reliable sources in Spain, the club has successfully reached an agreement with promising Malaga winger Antonio Cordero, with the deal expected to be made official within the next week.

This move signals the Magpies’ growing intent to invest in youth and cultivate long-term success, even amidst the complexities of financial regulations and intense competition for top talent.

Cordero, an 18-year-old regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in Spanish football, had drawn attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Both Real Madrid and Barcelona had reportedly been monitoring his progress closely, while Porto also made efforts to lure him to Portugal.

However, Newcastle managed to win the race for his signature, convincing the player and his representatives with a clear development plan and a vision for the future.

Earlier this year, Cordero and his family were invited to England to visit St James’ Park and Newcastle’s training facilities—an experience that likely played a key role in influencing his final decision.

Although his current contract with Malaga doesn’t officially expire until June 30, Spanish outlet MARCA has reported that the agreement will become official “within a week at the latest.”

The young winger is expected to sign a five-year deal that will keep him at the club until June 2030, underlining the Magpies’ belief in his long-term potential.

While fans may be eager to see Cordero in black and white immediately, the plan appears to be for the teenager to spend his first year out on loan—mirroring the strategy previously used with other young recruits.

Newcastle followed a similar pathway with Yankuba Minteh, whom they signed from Danish side Odense Boldklub for £7 million.

Rather than bringing him straight into the first team, the club opted to loan him to Feyenoord for the 2023–24 season. Although initially expected to be integrated into Eddie Howe’s squad, Minteh was eventually sold to Brighton & Hove Albion for £33 million.

That decision helped Newcastle remain within the bounds of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), a financial framework that continues to influence transfer strategies across the league.

Cordero’s loan destination has not yet been confirmed, though several reports suggest Ajax may be leading the race. However, Malaga are also eager to bring him back for the 2024–25 season, believing a one-year loan arrangement would benefit all parties involved.

Given his familiarity with the club and his impressive performances over the past season, a return to Malaga could provide the stability and playing time needed to support his continued development.

The young winger first gained attention playing for Malaga’s B-team, where he notched 12 goals in just 17 appearances in Spain’s fifth tier. Since making his senior debut in 2023, Cordero has steadily grown into a key player for Malaga’s first team.

Over the course of the current campaign in La Liga 2, he has racked up 37 appearances, scoring six goals and assisting seven more. His ability to influence games at such a young age has not gone unnoticed, and he has already earned international caps for Spain at the under-18 and under-19 levels.

This signing aligns with a broader strategy implemented by Newcastle’s sporting director, Paul Mitchell. Since his arrival from Monaco, Mitchell has placed significant emphasis on building a strong pipeline of youth talent.

While he has yet to make a marquee signing for the senior squad, he has quietly gone about assembling a portfolio of young players with high ceilings. In addition to Cordero, the club recently agreed to sign Dinamo Tbilisi forward Vaktang Salia, with the move scheduled to be finalized once he turns 18 in August.

Back in January, Turkish midfielder Baran Yildiz also joined the ranks from Gençlerbirliği, adding further depth to the club’s youth setup.

Mitchell has been vocal about the importance of identifying emerging talent in today’s footballing climate, particularly under the constraints imposed by PSR.

He has stressed that scouting and recruitment must focus not only on immediate results but on sustainability and future success.

In his own words, “Scouting and recruiting emerging talent is an essential part of building a sustainable future, particularly within the current PSR framework, so the market is fiercely competitive.

We continue to scout extensively, both domestically and overseas, with a view to securing players who can come through our talent pathway and, ideally, become part of the first team in future.”

Newcastle’s proactive approach, highlighted by the imminent arrival of Antonio Cordero, reflects a club that is not just planning for the next season, but laying the groundwork for the next generation.

As the football landscape evolves, the Magpies seem determined to evolve with it—investing smartly, building strategically, and keeping their eyes firmly on both the present and the horizon.