The transfer window has finally come to a close and Newcastle United have finished it with eight new signings.
It’s been a long, hard old transfer window for Newcastle United, who have experienced one disaster after another.
The future of Alexander Isak was the saga of the summer, with the striker refusing to play to try and force through a move to Liverpool.
Isak eventually got his way, with Liverpool stumping up a British transfer record of £125m to sign the striker.
Elsewhere, Newcastle missed out on several of their top targets throughout the summer but eventually recruited Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa to replace Isak.
Newcastle signed eight new players in the summer, spending a total of £260.4m, the most in any window since PIF bought the club.
Here’s Geordie Boot Boys’ ratings for each of the new additions.
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Antonio Cordero
- Signed from: Malaga
- Price: Free
Secured long before the window actually opened, Newcastle’s first summer signing was exciting teenage winger Antonio Cordero.
The Spaniard joined on a free transfer after his contract with Malaga expired. Cordero was a regular in the Segunda Division side, playing 40 games and grabbing six goals and seven assists.
Newcastle fans haven’t had a chance to see him in action yet, though, as Cordero headed straight out on loan to Belgian side Westerlo for the season.
The potential is high but it remains to be seen if it will be met at St. James’ Park.
- Grading: C+
Anthony Elanga
- Signed from: Nottingham Forest
- Price: £52m (rising to £55m)
Anthony Elanga became Newcastle’s first major arrival in July, arriving from Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest in a massive £55m deal.
That makes Elanga Newcastle’s joint-second most-expensive player ever, coming in off the back of a great season for Forest in which he scored six goals and set up 12.
Elanga has already excited fans with his lightning pace on the right flank, but it’s not yet clear if he’ll be able to replicate his great campaign, and he certainly cost a pretty penny.
- Grading: B
Park Seung-soo
- Signed from: Suwon Bluewings
- Price: Minimal, undisclosed
Similar to Cordero, Park Seung-soo is a prodigious young talent signed on the cheap by Newcastle.
However, in contrast, Park was given a chance to impress in pre-season and boy did he take it.
Park dazzled Newcastle fans with his cameos in his native South Korea and then on Tyneside, particularly impressing with his skilful dribbling.
He looks to be a great find and will be staying with the squad at least until January.
- Grading: B
Aaron Ramsdale
- Signed from: Southampton
- Price: Loan fee of £4m
Newcastle chased James Trafford all summer but their dawdling over Burnley’s asking price gave Manchester City the opening to activate their buy-back clause and he chose to return to the Etihad.
So instead of signing a new No.1, Nick Pope will remain the man between the sticks this season and Aaron Ramsdale was signed.
The three-time relegated goalkeeper has reunited with Howe on loan for the season, with Newcastle paying a £4m loan fee, and there is an option to make the deal permanent.
Ramsdale hasn’t made his competitive debut yet but didn’t look great in pre-season. He isn’t the upgrade fans expected.
- Grading: C
Malick Thiaw
- Signed from: AC Milan
- Price: £30m (rising to £34.4m)
After a long, frustrating wait for a new signing, Newcastle strengthened their defensive options with the arrival of Malick Thiaw.
The German international was signed for a total package of £34.4m from AC Milan, after impressing with resolute defensive performances in Italy.
Given Sven Botman’s injury record and the advancing years of Dan Burn and Fabian Schar, a new centre-back was a vital signing this summer and Thiaw looks to be a smart addition.
He looked good off the bench against Liverpool but is yet to start.
- Grading: B
Jacob Ramsey
- Signed from: Aston Villa
- Price: £39m (rising to £43m)
The biggest frustration for Newcastle over the summer is that Howe needed to upgrade his squad depth to complement his quality starting XI.
It took a lot of time to find one, but Jacob Ramsey significantly enhances the midfield options at the manager’s disposal.
Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton remain the first-choice trio, but Ramsey adds serious competition to the roles with his all-action qualities and great control on the ball.
In addition, he can also operate on the flanks to bring much-needed versatility to the side. Ramsey might be the best signing of the summer.
- Grading: A
Nick Woltemade
- Signed from: Stuttgart
- Price: £65m (rising to £69m)
Newcastle smashed their transfer record for the first time in three years when they finally got a striker signed late in the window.
After missing out on a laundry list of targets, Newcastle recruited Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart for a £69m package.
While the giant German does appear to have a lot of qualities that would suit how Newcastle play, his goal return in his career so far does not make for optimistic reading as one of Isak’s replacements.
The struggle many players from the Bundesliga have had when moving to the Premier League is also a massive concern.
Woltemade will have a lot of work to do to prove he’s worth his price tag but beating Bayern Munich to the signing is a big win.
Grading: B+
Yoane Wissa
Given Wissa was the last striker Newcastle targeted after trying to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen, Hugo Ekitike, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, it’s impossible to call the signing a raging success. Yet.
Even if he wasn’t their first choice, Wissa does arrive with pedigree, having scored 19 goals last season. In fact, only Isak and Erling Haaland had more non-penalty goals per 90 minutes than him in 2024-25.
Newcastle were forced to pay a premium, too, with Brentford milking £55m from Newcastle for Wissa, knowing that the Magpies had no other choice but to sign him.
Grading: B
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