A former Newcastle United star has become a poster boy at a National League South club after signing a surprise three-year deal following a lucrative takeover.
While there is a lot of work being done behind the scenes on Tyneside to get new players into the club, it looks like former players are now trying to find success elsewhere, years after they left.
It was recently announced that Salomon Rondon had completed a loan move to Real Oviedo. The former Newcastle United striker had been a part of the Club World Cup with fellow former Magpies Kenedy, but he has now taken his services to Spain for the 2025/26 campaign at the age of 35.
Elsewhere, Freddie Woodman completed a shock move to Liverpool this summer. The shot-stopper had just been released by Preston North End but is now back in the Premier League after leaving the Magpies in 2022.
It is unknown whether those players will truly be a success at their new clubs. It is difficult to see the latter playing many games for Liverpool with the likes of Alisson already there.
With former Newcastle players constantly moving around, another former star has completed a bizarre move to a National League South club a few years after his release from the Magpies.
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Former Newcastle United man Andy Carroll signs for Dagenham and Redbridge
In June, it was confirmed that Andy Carroll had left Bordeaux after just one season to return to England and be closer to his family. Newcastle’s former No.9 had enjoyed a marvellous season in France’s lower leagues, scoring 11 goals in 21 league appearances.
There were rumours that Carroll could return to the North East. However, his new club has since been confirmed, and it comes at a truly remarkable time for them.
On Saturday evening, the former football league side put out a statement confirming that the club had been taken over by a “consortium of prominent Qatari private investors”, with complete control being handed over to them.
Shortly after, Carroll’s signing was confirmed. The 36-year-old signed a three-year deal with Dag & Red, something very few players do at his age or at the level he will be playing at.
The deal is likely something to get fans on board with the new owners in their first few days of ownership, but he will be eager to find success elsewhere.
Former Newcastle United star Andy Carroll says why he joined Dagenham and Redbridge
Dag & Red were relegated from the National League in 2025 following a disappointing season marred by off-the-pitch troubles. However, these new investors still believe there is something worth investing in at that club, and will now be eager to get them back into the football league after spending so long out of it.
Despite being away for so long and being released by the club in 2021, Carroll is still a massive Newcastle fan. Before the Carabao Cup final, Carroll confirmed he was travelling from France to Wembley.
Carroll was then seen talking to Newcastle players after they had won the trophy and were just about to head up to the stands.
Dag & Red are Carroll’s sixth club since leaving Newcastle, but that does not appear to be worrying him one bit. Upon signing, Carroll said: “It doesn’t matter the level, or anything, as long as I get on the pitch and play football, that’s all that matters.
“Coming here and showing people I am just playing for the love of football rather than the money and the level is something I wanted to do.
“This is something which could be fantastic. We have a project to get them out of non-league and back up the leagues.”
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