Newcastle United confirm £20m permanent transfer as five players set to leave this summer

Newcastle United are gearing up for a transformative summer, anticipating several departures and a shift in strategy as they prepare to navigate the upcoming transfer window with a far more flexible financial position than in recent years.

The club’s improved Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) standing allows them to explore more ambitious moves without the budgetary constraints that previously limited their activity.

Head coach Eddie Howe has already hinted at a significant summer ahead, with the promise of a refreshed and restructured squad.

The first phase of the transfer window runs from June 1 to June 10, primarily to accommodate the FIFA Club World Cup, before reopening on June 16 for the broader summer activity.

Newcastle, eager to capitalize on their enhanced financial situation, are expected to be proactive. However, the club also faces decisions regarding several expiring contracts and players attracting attention from elsewhere.

So far, Newcastle have quietly extended the contracts of key squad members. Fabian Schär, Martin Dúbravka, and Emil Krafth have all signed short-term deals, while Eddie Howe recently confirmed that Sean Longstaff remains under contract through June 2026 after the club exercised an extension clause earlier in the season.

Despite this security, Longstaff’s future remains uncertain, with reported interest from Leeds United and Everton. Although Newcastle have him tied down for another season, there is a sense of ambiguity around whether he features prominently in Howe’s long-term vision.

Currently, five senior players are on track to exit the club when their contracts expire on June 30 unless new agreements are reached. Newcastle have been discreet with contract renewals in recent years, often opting not to announce extensions publicly.

This approach has seen figures like Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles, and even Howe himself quietly renew their deals. That same mystery surrounds Callum Wilson, whose current agreement reportedly includes an option for extension. However, uncertainty clouds his future.

Wilson, now 33, has endured a difficult season, starting just one Premier League match and battling persistent injuries.

His last league goal came over a year ago, highlighting the struggles he has faced. Although the club could extend his stay via the existing clause, they are unlikely to do so. A more plausible route might be offering him a new contract with reduced terms that reflect his diminished role over the past 18 months.

Wilson, meanwhile, has drawn interest from newly-promoted Leeds United and is expected to weigh his options once the window officially opens.

Jamal Lewis is another player who seems certain to depart. After an underwhelming loan spell at São Paulo, which ended prematurely due to injury, Lewis returned to Newcastle but has not rejoined the first-team environment.

Although registered in the club’s 25-man Premier League squad for the season’s second half, he has remained absent from matchday selections and continues to train away from the main group.

Howe explained that the decision to include Lewis was largely procedural, with no plans for reintegration. The 27-year-old left-back will leave as a free agent, effectively ending a chapter that never truly gained momentum.

Goalkeeper Mark Gillespie, a long-serving squad member who has rarely featured on the pitch, is also set to become a free agent.

Popular within the club for his professionalism and influence around the training ground, Gillespie has often been offered new contracts shortly before expiry.

Though no extension has been confirmed, another short-term deal cannot be ruled out entirely, especially considering his value in supporting the squad behind the scenes.

John Ruddy, signed last summer on a free transfer, finds himself in a similar position. The 38-year-old veteran has yet to make his debut but has been named on the bench 10 times this season.

His presence offers depth and experience, albeit primarily in training and locker room mentorship rather than on the pitch. His future remains undecided, though a playing extension seems unlikely.

Lloyd Kelly, meanwhile, appears set to become Newcastle’s first confirmed departure via a permanent transfer. The defender joined Newcastle on a free transfer and was loaned to Juventus in February after failing to establish himself as a regular starter.

The Italian side included a performance-based obligation to buy, and those criteria have now been met. With Kelly impressing before a recent injury setback, Juventus will finalize a deal worth up to £20 million.

Club sources have confirmed this move, which not only benefits Newcastle financially but also clears space for defensive reinforcements. Both clubs, aiming for Champions League qualification, are looking to next season with new ambitions and reshaped squads.

As Newcastle United prepare for a pivotal summer, their focus remains on balancing incoming talent with necessary exits.

With the luxury of a healthier financial position and a clearer strategic path under Eddie Howe, the Magpies seem poised for a bold retooling that could define the next stage of their Premier League evolution.