How is the Newcastle United squad shaping up for the 2026/27 season?
Only four days to go until the opening St James’ Park match.
Newcastle United taking on Liverpool, no pressure.
Newcastle United players who have exited following the end of last season:
Kieran Trippier, John Ruddy, Emil Krafth, Matt Targett, Aaron Ramsdale, Harrison Ashby (loan), Anthony Gordon, Odysseas Vlachodimos (loan), Alex Murphy (loan), Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Joe White
A dozen players leaving who have previously played for the first team, some more than others.
Six Newcastle United signings made so far this summer, all of them aged 24 or younger:
Sean Steur (18), Bazoumana Toure (20), Aladji Bamba (20), Ewen Jaouen (20), Lukas Hornicek (24), Amar Dedic (24)
So is this Newcastle United squad now fit for purpose, to take on the 2026/27 challenge that awaits them?
The 2026/27 Newcastle United squad as things stand (19 August 2026):
Goalkeepers
Lukas Hornicek, Ewen Jaouen, Mark Gillespie, Nick Pope
Full-backs
Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall, Amar Dedic
Centre-backs
Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Fabian Schar
Midfielders
Joelinton, Jacob Ramsey, Joe Willock, Lewis Miley, Aladji Bamba, Sean Steur
Wingers
Harvey Barnes, Anthony Elanga, Jacob Murphy, Bazoumana Toure
Strikers
Nick Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, William Osula
I make that four goalkeepers, three full-backs, four centre-backs, six midfielders, four wingers, three strikers.
That gives a Newcastle United squad of 24 players.
However, we know Nick Pope will almost surely leave, whilst Mark Gillespie will be the third goalkeeper.
The numbers above suggest 20 outfield players, which sounds enough, but I think we all accept at least one or two more signings most definitely needed before the window closes at 11pm on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
One of those extra signings is definitely going to be a midfielder and Nico Gonzalez at Manchester City is the latest one that Newcastle United are reported to be having talks about.
I think it would be zero surprise if Joe Willock leaves, whilst there have also been claims of Jacob Murphy leaving this summer and Joelinton heading to Saudi Arabia.
A lot of the time when Newcastle United fans are discussing who should and shouldn’t be sold, I think they forget that you need to first of all have another club willing to pay a viable transfer fee.
Whilst Willock looks the most likely of these to leave (if a club makes a viable offer!), I wouldn’t rule out the likes of Murphy and/or even Joelinton going as well, even though he has just been announced as vice-captain for the new season. This is proving to be a transfer window where anything is possible.
Again, I think it all depends on which players Newcastle United get offers on, amongst the individuals who aren’t seen as essential to keep.
Plus of course other new signings also need to be lined up if certain squad players are to go.
Newcastle United are getting linked with strikers and difficult to tell if this is just media talk. If a new striker was signed then that would surely mean one of the three listed above leaving. If that was the case then I can only imagine it would be Nick Woltemade. Pre-season still hasn’t suggested that NUFC can play in a system where he will thrive.
Another total unknown is exactly what the possibilities are in terms of spending on transfer fees and wages. The UEFA SCR situation has massively limited and impacted this transfer window, getting the wage bill down by signing younger players on far less money whilst some of the highest earners move out, as well as not going to end up with a net spend this summer on transfer fees I reckon.
This is why I wouldn’t be amazed if Joelinton did leave, maybe the highest wage earner left at the club, has now turned 30 and increasingly injury prone.
If say somebody like Nico Gonzalez and another credible midfielder signing was also made, whilst say Joe Willock and Joelinton left, I have to say that I think I would have a better feeling about how this Newcastle United squad was looking.
Whether anything is intended to be done in the striker department remains to be seen.
As for the other younger players who were already at the club. I think pre-season suggests that Leo Shahar is the most likely to feature the coming season. I thought he did well and even if he went out on loan he could be recalled. Sean Neave has those three strikers currently ahead of him and had limited opportunities in the Matthias Jaissle friendlies, a loan move for first team football looks very likely. Mason Miley did well filling in at right-back but as a 17-year-old midfielder I think he is still some way off getting considered for first team action.