Signed from Nottingham Forest in 2014, Karl Darlow was a mainstay in Rafa Benitez’s 16/17 side, keeping 13 clean sheets as Newcastle lifted the title. However, the arrival of Martin Dubravka in January 2018 left him on the bench for the majority of his remaining Newcastle career. A successful spell between the sticks on loan at Hull City in 2023 earned the 33-year-old a move to Leeds United, where despite being firmly second choice behind Frenchman Illan Meslier he was called up to the Wales national team for the first time, starting in a 2-1 Nations League win over Montenegro.
Despite links to many quality defenders over the last three years, Fabian Schär has remained a mainstay in Eddie Howe’s side. While his defensive prowess is adored by Newcastle fans, the Swiss international is no stranger to going forward, with over fifty career goals to his name. The 33-year-old scored one of the opening goals of the 22/23 season with a screamer against newly-promoted Nottingham Forest and has also scored in the Champions League with a similarly ridiculous finish in the 4-1 thumping of PSG.
Signed alongside fellow Forest academy product Karl Darlow in 2014, Jamal Lascelles was among those in NE1 for whom the takeover could well have seen them sold. While by no means a bad player, few could have imagined the derby-born centre-half would lead the Geordies out to UCL ecstasy against PSG given his fairly average performances prior to Eddie Howe’s arrival. The Newcastle skipper is currently battling a long-term Injury to his ACL, but can be proud of how he has fought to keep his place in a changing Newcastle side.
A regular in the Benitez side of 16/17, Ciaran Clark never looked particularly comfortable in the Premier League. Poor performances culminated in a ninth-minute red card against Norwich at home and saw the Irishman pushed to the fringes. A successful although injury-hampered 22/23 season saw Clark net twice to win promotion to the Premier League with Sheffield United. While well-liked by fans, myself included, he was not offered a contract at Bramall Lane and instead joined Stoke City alongside fellow Irish blade Enda Stevens. Following limited game time and injury, Clark was released by the Potters in 2024.
Brother to Portsmouth winger Josh Murphy, the former Norwich City man broke into the Newcastle United squad following a solid loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday. Murphy scored nine and assisted four in blue and white before returning to Tyneside. Like Lascelles and Schär, Murphy has adapted well to life under the club’s new ownership and has featured consistently ever since. The 2023/24 season saw him collect 11 goal contributions, including an assist in the Champions League and a ten-minute brace against Spurs as the Magpies cruised to a 6-1 victory.
Matt Ritchie’s time at Newcastle was nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster. Whether it was accidentally kicking a Chelsea fan, hiding the ball under his shirt to stop Mitrovic stealing his penalty or loudly protesting being substituted, the Scottish international had it all. Despite previous experience under Eddie Howe at Bournemouth, Ritchie struggled for game time due to the excellent form of fellow wingers Almiron, Murphy, and Gordon. Indeed, his equalising goal against the Cherries this February was his first goal since 2020. After being released, Richie turned down interest from Sheffield United, returning to academy club Portsmouth in a move he described as a “dream come true”. The 35-year-old made his second debut in an impressive 3-3 draw with title favourites Leeds United.
Joe Willock had been at Arsenal since the age of four prior to signing a six-year deal with the Mags in 2021. While initially not able to retain the form he displayed in an electric loan spell at St. James’ the year before, Willock has played well under the new regime. Able to play with more confidence under Howe’s system, the midfielder registered one of the assists of the season in a famous 6-1 win against Tottenham, hitting a ridiculous outside-of-the-boot pass from the halfway line to put Alex Isak through on goal. While three consecutive injuries in 23/24 forced Willock to miss 38 games, he has had a solid start to 24/24, scoring in the first minute against Nottingham Forest in Newcastle’s League Cup opener this season.
The man who is met with “Harry Potter, he’s coming for you” chants at every ground in England; Jonjo Shelvey has had by far the most interesting career path since the PIF took control. Following his departure from Newcastle in January 2023, a disastrous spell at Nottingham Forest plagued by poor performances and apparent clashes with manager Steve Cooper prompted him to leave English football. The former Liverpool midfielder now plays in Türkiye, having signed for Istanbul outfit Eyüpspor (not to be confused with the Yorkshire greeting) following a successful season with Rizespor which saw him rack up 10 goal contributions, including a Beckham-esque strike from inside his own half. Speaking to beIN Sports Türkiye, Shelvey described the move to Rize as “just a matter of jumping on the plane” as soon as he was aware of interest. Shelvey is a player to watch this season, with his Eyüpspor side, managed by former Atletico Madrid star Arda Turan facing their first season in the Turkish Süper Lig.
Perhaps the greatest success story of Newcastle’s new era, Joelinton has been transformed from a transfer flop to a Brazil international and arguably one of the best players outside the ‘big six’. Signing from Hoffenheim for £40million in 2019, Joelinton’s first two seasons on Tyneside were poor. In a season characterised by poor finishing, Joelinton scored just 4% of his shots in 2019/20, missing eight big chances. With such dismal form, nobody could blame Geordies worldwide for thinking of Joelinton as just another flop. However, upon Eddie Howe’s arrival, Joelinton was shifted to a midfield role, an opportunity he took to “superbly well” in Howe’s words. Now able to utilise his physicality and defensive attributes, Joelinton has established himself as one of the club’s best.
As one of the best English strikers outside of the top six, Callum Wilson has managed to secure double figures in both goals and assists since 2017/18, aside from an injury-hit 21/22 season. Already a proven goalscorer, Eddie Howe’s arrival allowed the former Coventry man to hit the form of his life in 22/23, earning him a call-up to the England Squad for Qatar 2022. Wilson scored 18 and assisted 5, taking the Geordie Boys to Europe for the first time in twenty years. Howe’s impact is hardly surprising; under his leadership, Wilson bagged 23 championship goals in Bournemouth’s 2014/15 promotion season. Wilson’s form has declined with age and injury, with the now-veteran striker having not played 90 minutes since February. With his contract expiring this summer, Newcastle’s number 9 may well be approaching his final season in black and white, but can be proud of everything he has achieved in his career in the North-East
A bright spark in the team that saw the end of Mike Ashley’s tenure as Newcastle owner, Allan Saint-Maximin brought individual brilliance and Brazilian-esque flair to a league that is now dominated by system players and well-drilled tactical units. His sale to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli broke many hearts in Newcastle and beyond. Despite a solid season in the Middle-East which saw the Frenchman achieve 13 goal contributions, Saint-Maximin became one of the many big names to leave Saudi Arabia this summer, joining the likes of Jordan Henderson, David Ospina and Juanmi in moving elsewhere. The winger now joins former teammate Jonjo Shelvey in Türkiye, having signed for Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe on loan, where a bright start to the season has seen him assist two and score one in seven games.
