Newcastle United released five senior players during the summer of 2024.
The conclusion of the 2023/24 season resulted in various Newcastle United players leaving, with their contracts not being renewed.
Matt Ritchie and Paul Dummett were the two highest profile players to leave St James’ Park. It was very sad to see them go, while Eddie Howe was actually keen to keep Ritchie and Dummett.
However, that was not possible once Newcastle missed out on Europe.
Following their departures, Matt Ritchie completed an emotional return to Portsmouth. As for Dummett, he is still without a club, which is a surprise. Dummett was linked with Wolves recently, but remains a free agent.
Elsewhere, Kell Watts departed after just one senior appearance for the Magpies. He joined Cambridge United, but has so far played just once for the League One side.
Loris Karius also left Newcastle United, and, like Dummett, is still without a club. Karius was suggested as an option for Barcelona after Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered an injury, but a deal did not materialise. He is still a free agent, while Karius has said that he is considering retirement.
Jeff Hendrick is still without a club after Newcastle United release
Interestingly, three out of the five senior players that Newcastle United released over the summer are still without a club.
That is because forgotten man Jeff Hendrick is also still a free agent. In fact, there has barely been any speculation regarding him getting a contract somewhere.
The Republic of Ireland international spent last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, but only managed to make 12 appearances. He missed a large portion of the campaign due to injury, while there was even talk of Sheffield Wednesday terminating Hendrick’s loan deal in January.
It is surprising to see that Hendrick has been unable to secure a new employer. While he often struggled in a Newcastle United shirt, he could certainly do a job for a team in the Championship.
Hendrick scored a famous Newcastle goal in October 2021
It is just over three years since Hendrick scored his final ever goal for Newcastle United. In fact, it is one of the most memorable goals in the Magpies’ modern history.
It came on October 2nd 2021, as Newcastle lost 2-1 to Wolves at Molineux.
Hendrick scored Newcastle’s only goal that day, as Steve Bruce’s side fell to a defeat. It was a sobering day, as a lifeless Newcastle United team remained in the bottom three.
However, everything changed five days later.
On October 7th 2021, the Saudi-backed takeover went through, and nothing was ever the same for Newcastle United. The club has been on the up ever since, and PIF are very happy with Newcastle’s progress.
That progress has seen Newcastle outgrow players like Hendrick, who has the distinct honour of scoring the last ever goal of the Mike Ashley era.
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