A lot more was expected of Matty Longstaff at Newcastle United.
When he burst onto the scene in 2019, it felt like the sky was the limit for Sean Longstaff‘s younger brother.
He made his Premier League debut against Manchester United, starting in midfield alongside his brother. That was a dream come true for Matty Longstaff, but it got even better when he scored a winner for Newcastle United in front of the Gallowgate End.
It was an iconic goal that will never be forgotten, but it was probably as good as it got for Longstaff at St James’ Park.
He is 24-years-old now, and playing his football in Canada for Toronto FC. His last Newcastle United appearance came on January 18th 2021, with Longstaff leaving the club in the summer of 2023.
When Matty Longstaff knew he needed to ‘move on’ from Newcastle United
There was more than two years between Longstaff’s last appearance for Newcastle United and his departure. And during that period in between, the Magpies were taken over.
Mike Ashley was bought out on October 7th 2021, with PIF, Amanda Staveley and Jamie Reuben purchasing Newcastle United for £305million.
It was a moment that transformed the club. However, it was the moment that Matty Longstaff knew that his Toon career was over.
“As a fan, I was buzzing [about the takeover],” he told the Athletic.
“You just have to look at where they are now and where they can go. That made me so happy.
“But I wasn’t stupid, I was thinking, ‘That’s me done at Newcastle, I need to move on’.”
Newcastle United looked after Matty Longstaff after he left the club
Once PIF arrived at St James’ Park with their lofty ambitions, Longstaff knew his Newcastle United career was not going to continue.
He did appear in friendly games under Eddie Howe, but never made a competitive appearance for the current Newcastle United manager.
Instead, Howe loaned him out to Mansfield Town and Colchester United. His stint with Colchester was cut short due to a nasty knee injury, and his recovery coincided with his Newcastle United contract expiring.
But Newcastle allowed Longstaff to undergo his rehab with them, before the midfielder finally got himself a new team in February.
He is now on the back of his first season in the MLS, with Longstaff signing a two-year deal with Toronto FC, which includes an option for another year.
It is a shame that his Newcastle United career did not properly kick on after that goal against Manchester United, but at least Longstaff can now be a proper fan once again and enjoy the good times that should be on the horizon.
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