Newcastle United season preview 2025-26: Every transfer, squad numbers, important fixtures and predictions

Newcastle United have a huge and challenging 2025-26 season ahead of them as they aim to build on the success of last term.

2024-25 was a history-making season for Newcastle United as they finally ended their long wait for a trophy and secured a return to the Champions League.

It appeared as if Eddie Howe was on the cusp of taking his team to the next level, but a disastrous summer has halted that momentum.

Instead of pushing on, Newcastle have missed out on several top targets and star striker Alexander Isak is trying to force his way to Liverpool.

There does finally appear to be some light at the end of the tunnel, though, as Malick Thiaw has been recruited and Newcastle are closing in on Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey.

With quality squad options being added to a fantastic starting XI, it might not be all doom and gloom, but it’s still going to be a tough season as Newcastle compete on four fronts.

Here’s everything you need to know about the season to come.

Every player linked with Newcastle in summer transfer window: Latest news and prices on Eddie Howe’s targets

Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton celebrate after winning the Carabao Cup with Newastle United. — Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Newcastle United transfers in the 2025 summer window

It’s been a tough transfer window for Newcastle United, as they have struggled to recruit several of their top-quality targets like Bryan Mbeumo, Hugo Ekitike and Joao Pedro.

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Isak is also refusing to play for Newcastle as he agitates for a move to Liverpool and it remains to be seen if he will play for them again.

Howe has managed to add some quality to his squad, however, and there’s still time to recruit more before deadline day on September 1.

Anthony Elanga brings rapid speed and more attacking flair to the flanks, while Thiaw enhances the back line.

It’s not clear if youngster Park Seung-soo will be involved much in the campaign, but the exciting winger has certainly earned a chance with his pre-season performances.

Newcastle also haven’t lost any of their star players yet and have only sold the ones they wanted to sell.

Newcastle’s full transfer activity so far this summer is:

Ins	Outs
Anthony Elanga – Nottingham Forest – £55m (rising to £60m)	Lloyd Kelly – Juventus – £20m
Antonio Cordero – Malaga – Free	Sean Longstaff – Leeds United – £12m (rising to £15m)
Park Seung-soo – Suwon Bluewings – Minimal	Martin Dubravka – Burnley – Undisclosed
Aaron Ramsdale – Southampton – Loan (£4m fee)	Callum Wilson – West Ham – Free
Malick Thiaw – AC Milan – £30m (rising to £34.4m)	Jamal Lewis – Released
	Odysseas Vlachodimos – Sevilla – Loan
	Antonio Cordero – Westerlo – Loan
	Joe White – Leyton Orient – Loan

Newcastle United squad numbers 2025-26

There hasn’t been much movement on the squad number front this season but there have been a couple of changes.

Lewis Hall has picked No.3 to reflect his role at left-back, with new arrival Elanga picking the No.20 he left vacant.

Nick Pope has finally grasped the No.1 shirt following Martin Dubravka’s departure.

Thiaw has picked No.12, Ramsdale No.32 and Park No.64.

Here’s the full Newcastle squad and their numbers for the forthcoming season:

1. Nick Pope
2. Kieran Trippier
3. Lewis Hall
4. Sven Botman
5. Fabian Schar
6. Jamaal Lascelles
7. Joelinton
8. Sandro Tonali
10. Anthony Gordon
11. Harvey Barnes
12. Malick Thiaw
13. Matt Targett
14. Alexander Isak
17. Emil Krafth
18. William Osula
20. Anthony Elanga
21. Tino Livramento
23. Jacob Murphy
26. John Ruddy
28. Joe Willock
29. Mark Gillespie
30. Harrison Ashby
31. Max Thompson
32. Aaron Ramsdale
33. Dan Burn
37. Alex Murphy
39. Bruno Guimaraes
64. Park Seung-soo
67. Lewis Miley

Important fixtures for Newcastle in 2025-26

It’s going to be a big season with plenty of important fixtures, none more so than the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 after Sunderland earned promotion via the Play-offs.

Newcastle also have big rivalries with the likes of Liverpool (even more so thanks to the Isak saga) and Manchester United to contend with.

Here are some of the most important fixtures in the season:

Opening day vs Aston Villa (A) – August 16
Liverpool (H) – August 23
Sunderland (A) – December 13
Manchester United (A) – December 27
Liverpool (A) – January 31
Manchester United (H) – March 4
Sunderland (H) – March 21
Final day vs Fulham (A) – May 24

Other Newcastle United key dates:

Champions League league phase draw – August 28
Carabao Cup final – March 22
FA Cup final – May 16
Champions League final – May 30

How will Newcastle United perform this season?

It’s easy to be pessimistic about Newcastle’s chances of improving upon last year’s success.

Newcastle know how hard it is to juggle European and domestic competition after their difficulties in 2023-24, which saw them drop down from 4th to 7th in the Premier League despite being knocked out in the group stages.

This time around, the opening phase of the Champions League is longer and the squad hasn’t seen enough improvement yet to cope with the extra burden.

Yet, it can’t be forgotten how great a starting XI Newcastle had last season and that has been added to with Thiaw and Elanga.

A lot of the season hinges on the fate of Isak, though. If Newcastle do lose their best player and don’t adequately replace him, it will be hard to reach the heights of last season.

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