Eddie Howe has now been in charge of Newcastle United for four years and he’s made a fair few signings in that time.
Newcastle United’s new ownership chose Eddie Howe to be their new manager in 2021, taking over the hot seat from Steve Bruce.
Thanks to Newcastle’s newfound wealth, Howe has been able to spend a lot of money on improving his first-team squad, with 26 players being brought into the first-team so far and over £700m spent.
Here’s how each one of those signings ranks.
- Newcastle United 2025/26 squad cost – Transfer fees and stats for every player
26 – Odysseas Vlachodimos
A huge £20m was spent on Odysseas Vlachodimos, a goalkeeper the club didn’t want or need but were forced to buy so Ross Wilson’s Nottingham Forest would purchase Elliot Anderson for £35m in 2024.
Newcastle desperately needed a big pure profit sale to ensure they didn’t break PSR restrictions and signing the Greek international was the only way to do so. He is now on loan at Sevilla.
25 – Loris Karius
Loris Karius was brought in on a free in 2022 as a backup option between the sticks and it turned out he had to play in the biggest game possible, the Carabao Cup final, due to no other goalkeeper being available.
It didn’t go well for him as the final was lost to Manchester United and nor did his other game, in which he conceded four against Arsenal.
24 – John Ruddy
John Ruddy arrived on a free transfer from Birmingham City in 2024 to offer more goalkeeper cover.
23 – Park Seung-soo
Exciting young winger Park Seung-soo was recruited for a minimal fee from South Korean side Suwon Bluewings in 2025.
The teenager was expected to go straight out on loan but he impressed so much in pre-season cameos that he has stayed at Newcastle for the season and is continuing to dazzle for the U21s. It looks like he might be one hell of a find.
22 – Aaron Ramsdale
After Newcastle missed out on James Trafford in 2025, Howe moved to reunite himself with former goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who is serving as back-up to Nick Pope.
He signed on loan from Southampton but the deal could be made permanent in 2026.
21 – Yoane Wissa
Newcastle ended up paying well over the odds for Yoane Wissa as they desperately needed an Alexander Isak replacement on deadline day.
After initially bidding £25m for the striker, they wound up paying £55m to Brentford for Wissa and only got the signing completed with 30 seconds to spare.
To make matters worse, Wissa suffered an injury before even kicking a ball and has been unable to play so far. He is under a lot of pressure to score and move up this list.
20 – Jacob Ramsey
Jacob Ramsey has also suffered with injury problems since signing for Newcastle, picking up a knock in just his second substitute appearance that ruled him out for weeks.
There is hope he will soon climb up the ranks, though, once he gets back out on the grass.
19 – Lloyd Kelly
Newcastle signed Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer from Bournemouth in 2024 in what could prove to be a canny piece of business, but not for the player they signed.
After hardly featuring for the club and not impressing when he did, Juventus signed Kelly on loan in January and agreed to pay £20m for him in the summer. That went down as a tidy piece of profit for Newcastle to aid in PSR.
18 – William Osula
William Osula cost Newcastle a sizeable fee – of up to £15m – for someone with such little experience and goals to his name.
Newcastle nearly cashed in for £30m on deadline day but a move to Eintracht Frankfurt fell through. The Dane has shown signs of improvement in the new season and is contributing at the important end of the field.
17 – Yankuba Minteh
A player who didn’t actually play for Howe being so far up the list might be strange, and it remains frustrating for Newcastle fans that Yankuba Minteh never made an appearance for the club.
However, the Magpies managed to make over £20m in profit on the winger when he was sold to Brighton last summer, which came in handy due to PSR, so it turned out to be a worthwhile signing.
Even if Minteh has come back to score against Newcastle twice.
16 – Matt Targett
Matt Targett arrived on loan initially in Howe’s first transfer window in charge and was important during the first stages of the takeover as Newcastle looked to stabilise.
He fell out of favour over the years and is now spending the final year of his contract on loan at Middlesbrough.
15 – Chris Wood
Chris Wood wasn’t exactly the thrilling name Newcastle fans were expecting the club to sign in the wake of the takeover, but he proved to be a shrewd, if expensive, addition.
His five goals from 39 games weren’t a great return – though Wood’s talent is clear given his form for Nottingham Forest – but his signing disrupted Burnley when Newcastle were in a relegation race with them and the Clarets eventually went down.
14 – Anthony Elanga
Newcastle made Anthony Elanga their first major signing of 2025 when they spent a huge £55m to bring him in from Nottingham Forest.
The rapid winger has shown flashes of his attacking prowess, especially in the Champions League, but is still looking to find the cutting edge he had in the Midlands.
13 – Malick Thiaw
Malick Thiaw was another big arrival in 2025 and the classy defender looks set to have a big impact at St. James’ Park.
Already a Newcastle fan favourite with his own catchy chant, Thiaw has looked imperious in his opening games and is forming a solid partnership with Sven Botman.
12 – Harvey Barnes
Harvey Barnes has shown he can go on hot streaks of clinical form, but has struggled for consistency at the club.
Newcastle often look to take advantage of relegated clubs by signing their best players, but they still had to pay an expensive £39m for the winger from Leicester City.
Barnes has added some missing dynamism, pace and goals to the side, but has been unable to nail down a starting spot.
11 – Sven Botman
Given how brilliant he was upon joining the club and in the majority of his appearances, Sven Botman could be much higher up the list.
However, a serious ACL injury has kept him sidelined for the vast majority of 2024 and his injury struggles continued in 2025. The Dutchman is now back in the team but needs to keep fit to move higher up the list.
10 – Nick Woltemade
Nick Woltemade is the man tasked with replacing Isak and also has to deal with the pressure of being the club’s record signing at £69m, yet he is smashing all expectations so far.
The giant German has hit the ground running, not only scoring goals but bringing others into play with great hold and link-up play. He’s looking like a fantastic signing.
9 – Lewis Hall
Lewis Hall is bound to climb higher up this list as he continues to shine in the famous black and white stripes.
The exciting full-back initially joined on loan from Chelsea, but there was no question it would be made permanent, with a £28m (rising to £35m) deal being completed in 2024. Newcastle pulled off a coup in capturing the starlet.
The 20-year-old is getting better with every game and has now earned his first England call-up, but has struggled with injury and fitness in recent months.
8 – Tino Livramento
Newcastle paid out a fee of up to £40m for young right-back Tino Livramento in what could have been a risky move, given the 21-year-old has already suffered a serious knee injury in his short career.
However, he is making that risk pay off with a series of fine performances as he continues to reach his sky-high potential. Whether it be on the right or left, Livramento is sublime.
7 – Kieran Trippier
The first name Newcastle recruited with their newfound wealth was Kieran Trippier and he’s proven to be a genius addition at a bargain price.
Experience, leadership, quality, the veteran full-back has brought lots of valuable traits to the club and continues to be a key figure at 35. A player Howe can always rely on.
6 – Nick Pope
Though injuries have proven to be a problem at times, Nick Pope has been a crucial signing in taking Newcastle to the top end of the Premier League table.
Newcastle looked to replace Pope with James Trafford in 2025 but failed to do so and the goalkeeper has responded with his finest run of form yet and has kept several clean sheets already. A vital signing.
5 – Anthony Gordon
Anthony Gordon has been higher on this list and could get there again, but his form has dipped considerably in 2025.
Howe has nurtured Gordon’s talent and helped turn him into one of the Premier League’s most thrilling forwards and an England regular, but he hasn’t been contributing as much with goals and assists in recent months. There are promising signs he could soon be back to his best, though.
4 – Dan Burn
Dan Burn was a relatively low-key addition compared to some bigger (only figuratively) and more expensive signings but he has proven to be a superb investment.
The massive defender is capable at left-back or in the middle, has already racked up well over 100 appearances in less than three years and was signed for a bargain price of £13m.
A local hero, Burn etched his place in club history forever by scoring in the Carabao Cup triumph.
3 – Alexander Isak
If you go by sheer quality alone, Alexander Isak should probably be higher up the list. Not since Alan Shearer have Newcastle had a striker of such incredible talent, with skill and passing to go with his ruthlessness in front of goal. He scored the winner in the Carabao Cup final, too.
Yet, the harmful way in which he forced through his exit to Liverpool has left a sour taste in Newcastle mouths. Still, a British record transfer fee of £125m is nothing to sniff at.
2 – Sandro Tonali
Sandro Tonali was once much lower down this list, with his 10-month suspension doing damage to his impact at the club.
Yet, since his return, the Italian midfield maestro has been absolutely sublime, bringing strength, positioning and elegance to the midfield in equal measure.
Newcastle must do all they can to keep hold of Tonali.
1 – Bruno Guimaraes
Bruno Guimaraes has been one of Newcastle’s most consistent performers since he arrived from Lyon in 2022 and despite constant links with a move away, he remains loyal to the club and captain.
With goals, tackles, assists, pressing, skill, there is absolutely nothing the Brazilian can’t do in the middle of the park.
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