Bristol City (a) Seat selection closes Fri 10.07, 2pm
Valencia (a) Seat selection closes Fri 10.07, 2pm
Leverkusen/Strasbourg (h) Public sale now
CC & FA schemes (h) close Mon 13.07, 5pm

Latest:
Steur it up!



Thursday saw Newcastle confirm their third senior arrival of the close season, paying an undisclosed fee for 18 year-old midfielder Sean Steur from Eredivisie side Ajax.

The Dutch youth international left Ajax's first team training camp on Tuesday after a deal was agreed, flying into Tyneside ahead of his medical.

A fee of around £23m is claimed for Steur, who shares an agency with current Magpies Harvey Barnes, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento plus manager Eddie Howe.

Signing a five year deal, he'll wear squad number 14, vacant since a certain Swedish striker exited last year.

A product of the Ajax academy, Sean made his competitive senior team debut in February 2025, adding 25 appearances last season including three in the Champions League.

He'll become the ninth Dutchman to represent United in the Premier League era, after John Karelse, Patrick Kluivert, Tim Krul, Vurnon Anita, Daryl Janmaat, Georginio Wijnaldum, Jetro Willems and current Magpie Sven Botman.

The last permanent switch from Ajax to Newcastle came in August 2017 when Siem De Jong arrived at SJP - like brother Luuk a Dutch international, but born in Switzerland.

Latest:
Manzambi deal claim

Media outlets in Germany report that Bundesliga side Freiburg have accepted an offer of £51m for midfielder Johan Manzambi from Newcastle.

The 20 year-old is currently at the World Cup Finals with Switzerland, but sat out Tuesday's last 16 tie against Colombia due to a knee injury.

Sky Sports in the UK report that "agreement is close" but not sealed.

Update:
Splitting the G

Almost a year to the day that David Ornstein revealed Liverpool's interest in Alexander Isak, the same journalist took to social media on Wednesday with similar claims regarding Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes and Arsenal.

As was the case back in 2025, no bid currently exists, but Ornstein asserts the prospective purchasers are ready to offer a deal and the player is keen on the transfer.

Having dealt efficiently and profitably with malcontented pair Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, the onus is now on us to either complete a hat-trick of high value sales or decisively end the speculation and avoid repeating last year's saga.

The loss of the talismanic Brazilian would be a sizeable blow to both Eddie Howe's plans and supporter confidence given how we perform without Bruno, but allowing this window to run down without decisive action one way or the other would be absolutely disastrous.

Bruno's sale would mean that all three captains who lifted silverware at Wembley less than 18 months ago have gone - and while Kieran Trippier and Jamaal Lascelles rightly left, a massive chunk of knowledge and experience is being lost.

Younger signings may now be targeted, but a wise old head will also need to be acquired, otherwise the senior player's committee will end up consisting entirely of Dan Burn.

Rather than "Local Hero", "Cruel Summer" may be a more fitting tune when the Magpies next take to the field....  

Compo:
Train Wreckers

A century on from the General strike, a headline-grabbing incident in Northumberland during May 1926 is dramatically recalled at Newcastle's Theatre Royal this Sunday (12th).

"The Cramlington Train Wreckers" tells the true story of a group of miners whose attempt to stop a coal train instead saw them inadvertently derail a prestige passenger express - paying a heavy price for their act of sabotage.

The last remaining seats are on sale here

We had two tickets to give away for Sunday's production and asked which passenger service the Train Wreckers derailed. It was of course the Flying Scotsman and the winning entrant's name will appear here asap.

The prize is tickets x2 to the 7.30pm performance of Cramlington Train Wreckers on Sunday 12 July 2026 at Newcastle Theatre Royal.

Please see here for further performance information.

The prize is for the above performance only and is not transferable and no cash alternative will be offered.

Tickets will be emailed to the winner prior to the day of the performance.

PS: Ahead of Sunday's show in Newcastle, there are also performances in Derry on Thursday and Belfast on Friday.

2026/27:
Home friendly
opponents confirmed

Newcastle will conclude their pre-season programme with home friendlies over successive days as follows:

Sat 15.08.2026 Bayer 04 Leverkusen (3pm)
Sun 16.08.2026 Strasbourg (4pm)

Games are billed as the VisitMalta Weekender 2026, with a kickabout between NUFC Women and Inter Milan at 1pm on Sunday before the Strasbourg men's game.

Tickets are on public sale now.

Prices:

Full Weekender Ticket (Early Bird offer ends 22.07.2026)
Premium: £50 adults, £25 concessions
Others: £40 adults, £20 concessions

Day 1 Bayer Leverkusen:
Premium: £30 adults, £15 concessions
Others: £25 adults, £12.50 concessions
Adult+concession combo: £60 (2 adults, 2 concessions)

Day 2 Inter Women / Strasbourg:
Premium: £30 adults, £15 concessions
Others: £25 adults, £12.50 concessions
Adult+concession combo: £60 (2 adults, 2 concessions)

While a visit from the Bundesliga side the Magpies faced in last season's Champions League was already known, the participation of the French side has just been confirmed.

Strasbourg are in the process of appointing a new head coach after Gary O'Neill left last month for Ipswich Town.

This is the fifth successive season United have rounded off their preparations with a home double header:

2022/23 Atalanta (Italy) won 1-0
2022/23 Athletic Bilbao (Spain) won 2-1
2023/24 Fiorentina (Italy) won 2-0
2023/24 Villarreal (Spain) won 4-0
2024/25 Girona (Spain) won 4-0
2024/25 Brest (France) won 1-0
2025/26 Espanyol (Spain) drew 2-2
2025/26 Atletico Madrid (Spain) lost 0-2

2026/27:
Bristol City/Valencia (a)

Update: The allocation for Valencia (a) has been increased from 1,381 to 2,000 - NUFC are contacting season ticket holders who had already applied offering them places.

NUFC confirm that the away ticket transfer system will not be in operation for either Bristol City or Valencia.

Loyalty points will be awarded for both these games, but not for the Gateshead or Everton friendly fixtures.

Bristol City (a)  (no ballot, all ST applicants successful)
Seat selection open now (0 points)
Seat selection closes Fri 10.07.2026, 2pm

Our 3,407 allocation is in the Atyeo Stand behind the goal, as was the case for our most recent visit in August 2016.

Prices (ST Holders):
Adult (22-64) £10
Senior (65+) £8
Young Adult (19-21) £8
Junior (12-18s) £5
Junior (U12s) £1

Valencia (a)
Seat selection open now (24 points+)*
Seat selection closes Fri 10.07.2026, 2pm

* seat selection option not available, just ticket purchase

Our increased allocation of 2,000 is in block 733 of the uncovered top tier, in a corner position roughly equivalent to last season's Barcelona Champions League away game - but higher up, with more flights of stairs and a steeper rake.   

Prices:
All categories £15

2026/27:
Kind of blue



Currently doing the rounds on social media are images of United's 2026/27 away shirt. Release date is still tbc.

2026/27:
TV times

The Premier League have now published the revised fixture schedule for live TV covering August and September, with Newcastle's opening four games all altered:

Sun 23.08.2026 Liverpool (h) 4.30pm Sky
Sat 29.08.2026 Spurs (a) 5.30pm Sky
Sat 05.09.2026 Bournemouth (h) 12.30pm TNT
Mon 14.09.2026 Leeds United (a) 8pm Sky*
Sat 19.09.2026 Hull City (h) 3pm no live UK TV

* if NUFC or LUFC are in the Carabao Cup Third Round and drawn against a club in the Champions League (Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City or Manchester United), this game will be on Sat 12.09.2026 @ 12.30pm.

Assuming both sides survive the Second Round, a final decision on the PL game will rest on the Third Round draw, which takes place on or around Tue 25.08.2026.

The possible move is because Carabao Cup Third round ties are once again split over two weeks, the first clashing with Matchday 1 in the Champions League Group stage.

PS: Although trains are scheduled to run as usual between Newcastle and London on the day of the Spurs away game, Kings Cross station will be closed the following day.

Update:
Hatters take Harrison

Having featured in the last three senior pre-seasons without going on to make a competitive appearance for Newcastle, Harrison Ashby's Magpie career is drawing to a close.

Now in the final 12 months of his contract at Gallowgate, the 24 year-old full back has agreed a season-long loan switch to League One Luton Town.

Arriving from West Ham in January 2023, a pair of unused substitute selections in the closing two Premier League games of the season followed, before loans of varying effectiveness at Swansea City, QPR and Bradford City.

Ashby is the second current player to leave on loan, after Odysseas Vlachodimos returned to Seville. Confirmation of a further loan switch to Cadiz for Antonio Cordero is awaited.

Update:
Academy scholars announced

Now let's meet the eight who are going to generate.... United's latest intake of school leavers are as follows:

Roman Dowell and George Mair (goalkeepers), Lesecond Yeutembip (defender), Chukwudi Afumuzor, Jayden Kouossu and Alfie Seldon (midfielders), Theo Benjamin and Leon Mukumbira (forwards).

All eight debuted competitively last season for United U18s, four of them previously at other academies (Afumuzor with Portsmouth, Koussou with West Bromwich Albion, Yeutembip with Charlton Athletic and Mukumbira at Peterborough).

New arrivals at Newcastle's academy are awaited, amid claims that deals are in place for defender Kyle Healy-Matthews (formerly with West Ham) and midfielder Kyran Thompson (formerly with Arsenal).

The future of Eli Hall is uncertain following his exit from Ipswich Town, with both United and Spurs linked. 

Incoming:
Baz is a Mag - official



Newcastle announced the signing of left winger Bazoumana Toure from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim on Sunday. A fee of around £43m is reported, although officially undisclosed.

The 20 year-old Ivory Coast international flew to Tyneside with his representatives on Thursday, with social media images then circulating on Friday of him inside SJP.

Toure's participation at the World Cup Finals ended with Ivory Coast's defeat by Norway on Tuesday, having made three appearances (one start and two from the bench).

He moved from Swedes Hammarby to Hoffenheim in January 2025 transfer window, netting five times last season.

Toure becomes the third Ivorian to represent United after Cheick Tiote and the rather less-celebrated loan flop, Seydou Doumbia.

The Magpies previously did business with Hoffenheim in 2019, purchasing Joelinton for a claimed £40m fee.

Toure is reportedly represented by Unique Sports Group, whose other clients include Anthony Gordon, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Lewis Miley.

Update:
Deadline set for L7 Singing section moves

NUFC confirm that they continue to accept requests from current season ticket holders to relocate into a dedicated singing section at the North West Corner of Level 7.

These must be made by Fri 17.07.2026. Details here

Update:
Antonio loan looms

Spanish newspaper Marca report that Newcastle have concluded a further loan agreement for Antonio Cordero, who will return to Cadiz for the coming season.

Signed by the Magpies last summer, the 19 year-old winger had an unprofitable loan spell with Belgians KVC Westerlo before agreeing to join Cadiz at the turn of the year.

Following a slow start, Cordero got more pitch time after two changes of coach, ending up as a Cadiz crowd favourite after they avoided relegation from the Spanish second tier.

WC:
Last Mag standing

World Cup updates:

Dan Burn (England) Mexico won 3-2
Sat 11.07.2026 Norway, Miami, 10pm itv

Burn is the 36th different player to feature at the World Cup Finals while a Magpie and the eleventh representing England after messrs Milburn, Broadis, Beardsley, Shearer, Batty, Lee, Dyer, Owen, Trippier and Wilson.

He's the sixth current Magpie to appear at this tournament, one more than the previous high of five in 2014 and 2022.

SJP old boys still in play include Mikel Merino (Spain) plus England's Elliot Anderson, Anthony Gordon and Ivan Toney.

Find Coral's WC betting markets online here   

Outgoing:
Sandro away

Latest: Tonali's transfer was announced on Monday, the player taking to social media with a message for Newcastle fans that appears to be AI-generated.

The reference to his "son born during my time here" in that statement was at least accurate, that birth taking place in a private hospital in London last January, not Tyneside.

Earlier: Newcastle's second high-profile player departure of the summer was sealed on Wednesday, after a deal taking Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur was finalised.

Tonali was spotted flying from Milan to London on Thursday to complete the formalities of his medical.

A fee of £92.5m was agreed plus £7.5m in add-ons, with the 26 year-old Italian international midfielder collecting a weekly wage of £275K - more than double his current earnings and enough to offset the stigma of joining a side who have finished seventeenth in each of the last two seasons...

The first player to swap the Magpies for Cockerels since Moussa Sissoko almost a decade ago, Tonali is set to make his PL home debut for Spurs against United in late August.

Although there was some noise about rumoured interest from Manchester City, that failed to translate into an actual bid, leaving Spurs as the only serious suitors for Tonali.

On that basis the Magpies look to have done good business for a player who, like Anthony Gordon, clearly saw his future away from Tyneside and whose variable displays contributed to our own mediocre domestic campaign. Avoiding another damaging Alexander Isak-style saga is also refreshing.

Inbound recruitment though is where the real interest lies - which will help to answer the imponderable question of whether there's enough of a "project" to prevent Bruno Guimaraes from joining what would become an exodus.

Rightly described as talismanic by one writer in recent days, the monetary value of the 28 year-old who produced on a global stage at the World Cup for Brazil may be at his maximum, but his exit really would trigger alarm bells.

2026/27:
Home Cup scheme info

Season ticket holders are now able to log on their NUFC account and sign up for both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup home ticket scheme guaranteeing places for this season.

The deadline for both schemes is 5pm on Mon 13.07.2026 and as previous seasons have shown, there's no scope to sign up after that point.

Separate sign-ups are required for each scheme and success can be checked by the appearance of one (or both) on your cup scheme menu. No confirmation email(s) are generated.

2026/27 home cup pricing:

Carabao Cup: £22/£28 adults*
FA Cup: £35/£40 adults*

(2025/26 prices were Carabao £20/£25 and FA £30/£35)

* Last season's decision to charge more for home Champions League ties after the group stage has been extended to domestic home cup ties this season.

Any home Carabao Cup or FA Cup Quarter-final or Semi-Final ties will be subject to as-yet undisclosed prices.

United enter the Carabao Cup in the regionalised Second Round on or around Wed 26.08.2026. They should learn their opponents on or around Mon 10.08.2026.

FA Cup Third Round ties take place on or around Sat 09.01.2027, with the draw on or around Sun 06.12.2026.

U21s:
Moors v Mags

National League North side Spennymoor Town confirm that they will host Newcastle U21s in pre-season, the Magpies visiting Brewery Field on Thursday July 30th at 7pm.

Admission for that game is £10 adults, £5 over 60s/U18s, with advance sales from STFC here or pay at the gate.

The game comes ahead of United U21s staging a training camp at the Pinatar Arena in Spain, after which Robbie Stockdale's side visit St. Mirren for a behind closed doors fixture on Wednesday August 12th at 12.30pm.

Update:
Staying, going etc.

Squad updates:

Senior players signed (2):
Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Toure

Contracts extended (2):
Mark Gillespie, Fabian Schar (both to 2027)

Senior players out of contract (5):
Emil Krafth, Kieran Trippier, John Ruddy, Matt Targett, Max Thompson.

Senior player loan expired (1):
Aaron Ramsdale (returned to Southampton)

Senior players sold (2):
Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Sandro Tonali (Spurs)

Senior players loaned (2):
Harrison Ashby (Luton Town), Odysseas Vlachodimos (Seville)

Development squad players out of contract (15):
Will Anderson, Joe Brayson, Thomas Bryant, Jude Cogdon, Adam Harrison, Alfie Harrison, Kayden Lucas, Charlie McArthur,Alex O'Donovan, Darren Palmer, James Taylor, Matty Taylor, Ciaran Thompson, Ezra Tika-Lemba, Mo Waddani.

Development squad player sold (1):
Travis Hernes (Groningen)

What Else?