How is the Newcastle United squad shaping up for the 2026/27 season?
Well, we know a number of players who are leaving when their contracts end on 30 June 2026.
The likes of Kieran Trippier, John Ruddy, Emil Krafth and Matt Targett.
Aaron Ramsdale, Mark Gillespie, Harrison Ashby and Fabian Schar are also set to leave St James’ Park this summer as their contracts end, unless we are officially told otherwise.
Anthony Gordon has just been sold for £70m to Barcelona.
Fair to say that as this Newcastle United squad looks now, there are gaps that need filling.
The 2026/27 Newcastle United squad options from amongst the contracted players for next season:
Goalkeepers
Nick Pope, Odysseas Vlachodimos
Full-backs
Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall
Centre-backs
Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Alex Murphy
Midfielders
Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton, Jacob Ramsey, Joe Willock, Lewis Miley
Wingers
Harvey Barnes, Anthony Elanga, Jacob Murphy
Strikers
Nick Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, William Osula
It would be a massive surprise if Vlachodimos in in next season’s Newcastle United squad. He has been popular at Sevilla who only just scraped La Liga survival, they would like to buy him but have little money. My assumption is that he goes out on loan again or is sold. Alex Murphy has been cover at left-back this last season but his main position is central defence. I don’t think he will be a contender for a first team place and is destined to move elsewhere for first team football, in my opinion.
If my assumptions are correct, then as things currently stand the Newcastle United squad for 2026/27 has:
One goalkeeper (Pope), two full-backs (Hall, Tino), three central defenders (Thiaw, Burn, Botman), six midfielders (Bruno, Tonali, Miley, Ramsey, Joelinton, Willock), three wingers (Murphy, Barnes, Elanga), three strikers (Osula Wissa, Big Nick).
That is a total of 18 Newcastle United first team squad players.
That is two short of even filling a matchday squad of eleven starters and nine on the bench.
When journalists and fans talk about having a major clearout on top of the ones who are already set to leave, I don’t think they are realising just how few first team players we actually have.
My belief is that Fabian Schar will end up agreeing another year, which will be a massive plus. Mark Gillespie is rumoured to be set to stay for at least another year but that is mainly on the coaching side as I understand. He could maybe act as third choice keeper as well, or possibly young keeper Aidan Harris.
However, I think this still leaves Eddie Howe having to bring in at least one goalkeeper and two full-backs (who can potentially cover other positions as well).
My assumption is that Joe Willock will be sold (he only has one year left on his contract) and that one of our three strikers will leave. Then you remember Anthony Gordon has gone as well.
So as well as a goalkeeper and two full-backs, I think at least more signings needed, to play as midfielders and/or in attacking areas. If Schar did leave then I think you would have to add another central defender to the shopping list.
This is of course all without any other key players following Gordon out of the door this summer, the likes of Thiaw, Tonali, Tino, Hall and Bruno. Players who most other clubs would love to have.
My gut feeling is that these five will all be still at Newcastle United next season and I believe that this is the understanding and expectation currently within the club but who knows what the reality becomes if actual bids go in for any player.
Needless to say, it would be massively reassuring and a confidence booster if at least a couple of first team contenders are signed in the near future.
The transfer window officially opens on Monday 15 June 2026 but of course, as the Anthony Gordon move to Barcelona shows, deals can be agreed in advance of the official window opening and then formally be registered later.
Interesting to see if any young players make inroads into the first team squad. Sean Neave and Leo Shahar are most likely, they regularly trained with the first team last season although that was a lot to do with how short of numbers injuries left the Newcastle United squad and why the teenagers made the first team bench so often. Trevan Sanusi had an injury affected loan spell at Ligue 1 club Lorient and is another with possible first team squad potential hopefully, Park Seung-soo as well. However, I think loan spells to (hopefully!) get regular first team football are most likely for this quartet next season.