Johan Manzambi could be set to be the fourth Newcastle United summer signing with the deal now set to be progressed.
Ewen Jaouen was the opening NUFC buy of summer 2026 with a £24m deal done to bring the 20-year-old goalkeeper from Stade de Reims, then Hoffenheim agreeing a £43m move for 20-year-old winger Bazoumana Toure to come to Tyneside.
Tuesday morning saw the media in the Netherlands report that Newcastle United had agreed a £23m deal for 18-year-old Ajax central midfielder Sean Steur.
The UK media swiftly following the Dutch reporting, confirming that Sean Steur is set to be the third Newcastle United summer buy.
Hot on the heels could well be Johan Manzambi as the fourth, with the likes of The Athletic, The Mail and others, saying that Newcastle now stepping up their efforts to land the 20-year-old Switzerland international midfielder.
David Ornstein stating that: ‘As things stand Newcastle are in the strongest position to close a deal. The Athletic reported on Tuesday Newcastle were continuing to work on a move for Manzambi, and are prioritising a move for the Switzerland international this window.’
Manzambi has scored three goals and got two assists for Switzerland so far at the World Cup and has attracted the interest of many clubs. However, Newcastle United have been tracking the young midfielder for some time and scouted him regularly across the past 2025/26 season for Freiburg.
Johan Manzambi started his career at Swiss club Servette before moving to Freiburg three years ago and has made 58 appearances for Freiburg, scoring nine times, since making his debut for the club in August 2024.
Chris Waugh covers Newcastle United for The Athletic and says: ‘Johan Manzambi is Newcastle’s priority target and is a player they have admired for a long while. He has not only caught their eye at the World Cup, but over the past year or so because of his direct, ball-carrying and game-defining interventions for Freiburg, too.’
Newcastle United formally completed and announced the signing of Bazoumana Toure after his team Ivory Coast exited the World Cup.
Johan Manzambi, one way or another, could shortly do the same. The World Cup final is only 12 days away and tonight Switzerland face Colombia in the last 16, before then potentially Argentina or Egypt in a quarter-final on Saturday (11 July).
However, Sky Germany have now reported that Johan Manzambi is ruled out of tonight’s match against Colombia with a knee issue: ‘Switzerland must do without Johan Manzambi in the World Cup round of 16 against Colombia. The midfielder suffered a knee injury in the final training session…A subsequent MRI scan confirmed the injury. This means it is certain: Manzambi will definitely miss the round of 16 against Colombia.’