Newcastle new signings: Confirmed ins and outs for summer 2023

Since the takeover in 2021, Newcastle United have transformed from a yearly relegation-battling side with little ambition to a side battling in cup finals and heading to the Champions League.

A lot of this has been down to Eddie Howe’s fantastic management of the players that Newcastle already had. Though, another part has been some great purchases in the transfer market.

The 2022/2023 season saw Newcastle United finish fourth in the Premier League and entering the Champions League for the first time in 21 years.

That would require some major additions to the squad if they want to compete, with that in mind, we expect a busy window, so here are all the confirmed transfer ins and outs at Newcastle United for the 2023/2024 summer window.

Newcastle new signings: Summer 2023 arrivals

Lewis Hall

Newcastle looks to have finalized their summer business with the signing of promising Chelsea left-back Lewis Hall on loan. Hall made his Chelsea debut last season in their loss away to Newcastle, but Hall was a clear standout, clearly thriving in the atmosphere of St. James’ Park. Well, as Newcastle fans would discover once Hall was linked to the club. Hall, and his Dad’s side of the family, are lifelong Newcastle United fans. His Dad is from the area.

Hall joins Howe’s team as an attacking full-back, though during his career, he’s played in a central role on occasion. It’s unknown right now what Howe’s plans are for Hall; however, if used as a left back, he’ll offer Newcastle a new dimension on the left side. Hall will sign on an initial loan deal from Chelsea, though the deal involves an obligation to buy if he meets certain performance-based conditions. Those conditions are likely to not be anything too difficult, with the loan really serving as a way to put Hall's transfer on Newcastle's financial books for next season to help with FFP.

Tino Livermento

Before the window opened, it was rumored that Newcastle wanted at least one midfielder, a forward who can play wide (Barnes to replace Maxi), a right-sided center-back, and a left-back. So, why has Newcastle signed a right-back who’s been injured for an entire season?

At first glance, it seems odd. But Livermento can play on the left side, and Kieran Trippier is also very capable. So, Howe is taking a risk on a player who is available cheap due to an injury and Southampton relegation, who can come into the team now, but also be a long-term solution to the right-back position when Trippier hangs up his boots. Though Livermento is a risk, out for an entire season with an ACL injury, it’s impossible to know what Newcastle is buying, but it’s a risk worth taking for Howe and his team.

Sandro Tonali

This deal is currently unconfirmed by either club. However, Tonali’s agent and many press outlets have confirmed that only the player's unveiling is needed. Local Newcastle press had been told that Howe wanted to make two marquee signings in the summer window. When news broke that Newcastle had agreed on a deal with AC Milan, for their 23-year-old midfielder, it looked like Newcastle had their man. Recording nine assists and two goals for AC Milan last season, Tonali is one of the brightest prospects in Europe.

Tonali will likely link up with Bruno Guimaraes in a midfield double pivot in Howe’s side. The deal is rumoured to cost Newcastle around £60 million plus add-ons, with Milan also securing a 10% sell-on clause. Tonali will become a rare sight in the Premier League, an Italian. But can he become just the second Italian to win the Premier League?

Yankuba Minteh

Newcastle started off the window by adding a youngster to their squad. Minteh joined from Danish side Odense Boldklub for around £6 million. His first season in the Superligaen saw him secure four goals and six assists in his 17 appearances for the side. Minteh will spend 2023/2024 on loan at Feyenoord, where he will continue his development.

Harvey Barnes

Eddie Howe has found his man to replace Allan Saint-Maximin in Harvey Barnes. Despite their relegation to the Championship, Harvey Barnes put on another great attacking season for the Foxes. In 34 games last season, Barnes scored 13 and assisted 1, putting him in the top 90 percentile for Non-penalty Goals. Barnes made his debut for Leicester in the Champions League, and in his 187 appearances for the club, he’s netted 45 times and assisted 32 times. So it’s clear why Howe wanted to bring him into Newcastle.

The deal to sign Barnes took a fair bit of time for Newcastle to secure, but the sale of Maximin to Saudi club Al-Ahli, where he will link up with Ferminho and Mahrez. While Maxi is undoubtedly a fun player to watch, Barnes’ numbers speak for themselves, and he should give Newcastle more impetus on the left side, something they lacked last season.

Loris Karius

Making just one appearance last season, and that being in the Carabao Cup final loss, Loris Karius has been offered a new deal by Newcastle. With Martin Dubravka likely leaving for first-team football, Karius will become the club's number two behind Nick Pope.

Matt Ritchie

While he only made seven appearances for Newcastle last season, Matt Ritchie is often seen as one of the key figures at the club. With him now working on his coaching badges, it looks like Ritchie might see out his career with Newcastle.

Paul Dummet

With Champions League football secured, Newcastle desperately need to hit their quota for “Trained at Club” players. With UEFA requiring four, Paul Dummet fits the bill, and that’s likely the entire reason for him staying at the club.

Newcastle transfer departures

Allan Saint-Maximin

After lots of speculation, French winger Allan Saint-Maximin has left St James' Park after four years at the club. The dynamic forward has made the move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli for a fee in the region of £23m. The 26-year-old will join the likes of former Premier League gem's Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino in the Saudi Pro League after falling down the pecking order with the Magpies.

Saint-Maximin feels like a throwback to an era of football that we’ve left behind. His key stats always look poor, yet his ability to take on a defense, throw a team into disarray and create pressure is unmatched. Sadly, Eddie Howe just doesn’t seem to be the type of manager that ASM can thrive under; while his attacking output is great, his lack of back tracking and off-the-ball work rate makes it hard for him to fit in. Another issue comes from Newcastle playing a much higher line, meaning there is less space for Maxi to get in behind a defence. 

Having played 111 games in the Premier League, Maxi has only managed 12 goals and 19 assists. It’s fair to say most of his work comes in the build-up to a play, and for that, we’re sure he’ll be missed by fans of other sides, though they might be thankful that he’ll no longer be playing against them. Maxi’s style will probably see him thrive at Al-Ahli in the Saudi League, with a much lower standard of defending and more freedom to attack.

Matty Longstaff

Newcastle United new signings
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The younger brother of Sean, Matty Longstaff, had a bit of a breakout season under Steve Bruce. Scoring two goals for Newcastle, both coming in games against Manchester United. He then spent time on loan at Aberdeen, Mansfield Town, and lastly, Colchester United, where his season was ended after a bad knee injury in December. He returned to Newcastle for treatment, where he will remain while he recovers despite being released.

Ciaran Clark

Signing from Aston Villa in 2016, Clark was the club's player of the season in their Championship title-winning season. Having secured 127 appearances for Newcastle, he spent last season on loan at Sheffield United, helping them to promotion to the Premier League. However, Clark’s lasting legacy at Newcastle might be that his red card famously forced Howe to move Joelinton into midfield. A position that he’s not left since, and he has now been capped twice for Brazil.

Jamal Lewis (Loan)

Jamal Lewis looks set to end his weird period at Newcastle United as he confirms his loan move away to Watford. Lewis joined for £15 from Norwich under the previous manager Steve Bruce, and while he was attracting interest from Liverpool at the time, Lewis has failed to shine. Early injuries hurt his progress, while less-than-stealer performances looked like the nail in the coffin.

There was hope of redemption for Lewis when Howe took over at Newcastle. He finally put together a string of games and looked set to keep his spot before picking up another injury and ending his season. Matt Targett replaced Lewis in that January window, and with Targett’s move made permanent last summer, Lewis played just 9 minutes of Premier League football for Newcastle in the 22/23 season. At just 25, there is still hope that Lewis can recover his career at Watford, and with a permanent deal potentially at the end of the deal, Lewis’ time at Newcastle, at least, appears to be over.

Karl Darlow

Newcastle new signings
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Having joined Newcastle back in 2014 from Nottingham Forest, that saw both Darlow and Jamal Lascelles sign for Newcastle for just £10 million. Darlow made 86 appearances for Newcastle and was key during Rafa Benitez’s time at the club. Once the club was back in the Premier League, Darlow always struggled for game time. Always playing out as the club's number two or number three keeper. Under Howe’s revolution of Newcastle United, Nick Pope joined the club, alongside Loris Karius and the already-established Dubravka. Darlow spent the end of 2023 with Hull City, playing 12 times and proving he still had what it took to perform.

Now, Darlow joins Leeds for a reported £200k, a nominal fee, as Newcastle looked to free up some of their bloated wage bills. Darlow is likely to be Leeds’ number one for the upcoming Championship Season, with Mesilier expected to depart during the Summer Transfer Window. 

Ryan Fraser (Loan)

A player signed by Newcastle from Eddie Howe's Bournemouth, Fraser started life at Newcastle on a wave of controversy. Having downed tool at Bournemouth, he looked to a new challenge in the North of England. While he had moments of class under Bruce, Eddie Howe joining Newcastle looked like the end of the road for Ryan Fraser. Despite their past, Howe was keen to move forward with Fraser. With some key appearances, often from the bench, Fraser looked to fight for a spot at the club. Sadly for Fraser, around the time of the League Cup final it all went south, as Fraser was relegated to the U21 set-up, where he has stayed ever since.

With Newcastle now looking to push on into Europe, Fraser was deadweight taking up wages at the club. With just 2 goals in 53 appearances, Fraser will spend the next season on loan in the Championship with Southampton.

Jeff Hendrick – (loan)

Jeff Hendrick looks to have finally ended his time at Newcastle after he secured a season-long loan to Championship newcomers Sheffield Wednesday. Hendrick spent last season with Reading, making a total of 45 appearances. Hendrick joined Newcastle on a free transfer from Burnley in 2020, and has made just 27 appearances for the club. Since the takeover, he's not featured once for Eddie Howe.

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