Eddie Howe ‘pleased’ as club accept Newcastle United request ahead of next season

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Eddie Howe is happy after Newcastle United made another pre-season announcement earlier this week.

Newcastle United’s pre-season schedule is now confirmed as Howe looks to get his squad in fighting shape for another huge season to come.

While there is still a lot of work to do in the transfer market until that point, pre-season will soon get underway on Tyneside.

Newcastle are set to play Celtic before they jet off to the Far East. Indeed, Newcastle’s pre-season tour will take them to Singapore and South Korea, before a headline fixture against Atletico Madrid at St James’ Park in the Sela Cup.

On Friday, however, the club confirmed yet another pre-season game, one that the Newcastle United manager wanted.

• READ MORE: Atletico Madrid fire brilliant message at Jason Tindall before Newcastle United clash in Sela Cup

Eddie Howe pleased as Espanyol agree to Newcastle United friendly

Newcastle have confirmed Spanish side Espanyol will come to St James’ on Friday 8 August, 2025.

The game will take place the day before Newcastle play against Atletico in the Sela Cup.

Interestingly, The Chronicle have added some extra insight into the Espanyol game.

They claim the Toon boss was eager to ensure his team added at least one more friendly to their pre-season schedule, and that Howe was “pleased” that Espanyol agreed to his request.

How much Newcastle United could make from their pre-season tour

Pre-season could be lucrative for Newcastle, for a number of reasons.

Football finance expert Adam Williams has told Geordie Boot Boys that Newcastle could make up to £6million from their pre-season tour of Asia.

“If I had to put a number on it, I’d say they could maybe make £5-6m from their pre-season tour in 2025,” said Williams.

“That’s in terms of the quantifiable benefits, such as fees from promoters, a cut of ticket sales etc. But there are lots of intangible benefits too.

“You can promote new sponsorships in key commercial markets, as Newcastle did last summer with Adidas in Japan, for example. It’s leverage with your sponsors when you can prove your appeal outside your own geography.”

It could also open up further commercial opportunities for supporters in that part of the world, albeit those benefits may not be seen for a few years yet. 

It’s going to be a busy summer for Newcastle. Howe wants Newcastle to make at least two signings by the start of pre-season, so hopefully supporters will get to see new faces donning the famous black and white kit by the time the friendlies start.