It now seems very likely that Kieran Trippier will leave Newcastle United during one of the two transfer windows in 2026.
Indeed, Trippier isn’t expected to sign a new contract at Newcastle United, which means an exit is at some point inevitable.
The club could feasibly decide to sell him during the January transfer window, although a summer departure does feel more likely at this stage.
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Either way, he will take some replacing. Trippier has had a profound impact on the club since joining Newcastle United from Atletico Madrid, both on and off the pitch.
Still, the 35-year-old is clearly coming towards the end of his elite-level career. While not to write him off completely, it would be reasonable to expect a drop-off in the coming years.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the winners and losers when Trippier does leave Newcastle.
Winners
Leo Shahar
A certain Newcastle academy star in Leo Shahar looks like the big winner here.
Tino Livramento is already first choice at right-back, so Trippier’s departure would not really make much of a difference to his position.
Shahar, however, could really benefit.
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If and when Trippier leaves, the 18-year-old could shoot up the pecking order.
Newcastle are excited about Shahar’s potential and perhaps fans could see him more often when some of his competition moves on.
Lewis Miley
Lewis Miley is no longer just an academy star but he’s yet to really nail down a first-team berth when everyone is fit.
Though a central midfielder by trade, Miley has impressed when playing as a right-back recently.
With Livramento linked away and Trippier likely to leave at some point in 2026, perhaps Miley could get the chance to become Newcastle’s starting right-back.
It would be a shame not to see him play in midfield, but there are certainly enough games over the course of a campaign for Miley to do both.
Kieran Trippier (if he leaves in summer 2026)
Trippier has been a remarkable signing for Newcastle and will leave with a place etched into the club’s folklore, whenever that may be.
Were he to stay for the rest of the season, Trippier could decide his next move and finish his career exactly where he wants.
Free agents generally have a lot of choice in the transfer market, given clubs interested in them do not have to pay a fee.
That could open up plenty of doors across the footballing globe to Trippier, who would certainly deserve a lucrative send-off in an exotic new league.
He may decide to stay in England of course but having that freedom would be a fitting way of honouring what he’s done for Newcastle.
Losers
Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe would be among the losers, even if Trippier isn’t playing too regularly.
Howe loves working with Trippier, with the defender having helped his manager transform Newcastle’s fortunes since his arrival.
When Trippier does leave, the Newcastle United squad will be losing one of its leaders.
That will be a blow to Howe, even if the timing could be right for all parties by the time the end of the season comes.
Newcastle United fans
Trippier’s seemingly inevitable departure at some point in 2026 will no doubt evoke quite the reaction from the Newcastle United fans.
The defender is a hugely popular figure among supporters and a symbol of the success of the PIF era to date.
Everything comes to an end, of course, but it’s hard to imagine there being a dry eye in the house whenever he does play his final game at St James’ Park.
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