Loris Karius explains why he really left Newcastle after making Eddie Howe contract claim

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Newcastle United waved goodbye to Loris Karius at the end of last season.

The goalkeeper was one of five senior players to be released by Newcastle United this summer, alongside Matt Ritchie, Paul Dummett, Jeff Hendrick and Kelland Watts.

Loris Karius had spent two years at St James’ Park, having arrived as an emergency signing in September 2022. He made just two appearances for Newcastle United, one of which was the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United.

It was not a major surprise to see Karius leave the club in the summer. Newcastle were well stocked in the goalkeeper department, while Eddie Howe was keen to sign a new stopper to compete with Nick Pope.

Loris Karius says Newcastle United release ‘made sense’

Now Karius, who is still a free agent, has reflected on his Toon departure in an interview with Sport Bible, admitting that he had to leave despite Howe actually wanting to keep him.

“It didn’t really make sense to me to do a third year,” he said.

“I don’t know. I asked myself, ‘Was I the second-choice and would I get games?’ It was difficult.

“The coach would have liked to keep me but all in all; the whole package didn’t make sense for a third year. It made sense to move on. They were two great years but it was time for a change.”

What Loris Karius ‘expected’ at Newcastle United last season

During his final season as a Newcastle United player, Karius made just one appearance. That came in a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal away from home.

However, Karius actually thought he was going to play more last season, especially once Nick Pope was ruled out with a shoulder injury.

“In the second season, when (Nick) Pope was injured, I expected, or hoped, to play games,” he said.

“In the end, there was always a reason why it didn’t happen. That’s the only thing I look back on with regret because if I had played the second half of that season, then we probably wouldn’t be talking now and I’d be at another club, starting afresh. But that’s football. You can’t change it.”

Newcastle had major goalkeeper problems last season

Newcastle United’s 2023/24 campaign would have been very different had Nick Pope not suffered an injury that ruled him out for almost the entire second half of the season.

With Martin Dubravka in goal, Newcastle changed the way they defended. He was not capable of sweeping up danger like Pope, which caused the Magpies a plethora of problems.

All the while, Karius watched on from the bench. Despite Dubravka’s struggles, the German stopper was not afforded any opportunities. If he had played, he thinks he would have been able to earn a move elsewhere.

Alas, Karius made just one appearance, and remains a free agent at the age of 31-years-old. Karius is considering retirement, as he continues to weigh up his options.