The summer transfer window of 2025 has finally closed and it won’t be missed by Newcastle United.
In a summer that should have seen the club push on after such a successful year, Newcastle United learned just how difficult breaking into the Premier League’s elite will be.
Eddie Howe saw Newcastle miss out on several of his top transfer targets to the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City, forcing him to go for alternatives.
Newcastle finally did some business by signing Anthony Elanga, Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey for the senior squad, while Park Seung-soo appears to be an exciting addition for the future.
Deadline day brought with it more drama, as Alexander Isak got his way and moved to Liverpool for £125m, with Yoane Wissa coming in for £55m to replace him.
With the squad now settled until 2026, here are the players who could be playing their final season for the club.
- Newcastle United confirmed signings 2025: Ins, outs, loans and releases in summer transfer window
Newcastle United contracts expiring in 2026
Newcastle United currently have nine players whose deals are set to expire in the summer of 2026.
They are:
- John Ruddy
- Kieran Trippier
- Fabian Schar
- Mark Gillespie
- Jamaal Lascelles
- Emil Krafth
- Nick Pope
- Aaron Ramsdale (on loan)
- Matt Targett
That’s a long list of players, several of whom are still near-guaranteed starters in Howe’s team to this day, so there will be moves to sign them up to new deals over the next 12 months.
Nick Pope remains the No.1 goalkeeper after Newcastle failed to sign James Trafford, so he is likely to be offered an extension.
Fabian Schar remains a bedrock in the defence and it’s easy to see him staying for another year. Veteran right-back Kieran Trippier also remains a key part of the squad but has been linked with an exit in recent windows.
Otherwise, Matt Targett (spending the year on loan at Middlesbrough), Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie all play bit-part roles in the squad and could all be released.
Aaron Ramsdale is spending the season on loan at St. James’ Park. Newcastle do have an option to make it permanent, but it remains to be seen if he will earn it.
The players Newcastle should sell in 2026
Much more interesting to consider is which players still under contract the club should look to move on in 2026.
Newcastle must upgrade the squad if they hope to climb up the Premier League table, which is why Sean Longstaff was sold this past window.
Joe Willock is one player who is falling into the bracket of not being good enough after failing to take his chances in the side and could be sold.
Will Osula has raw talent and did score against Liverpool but is clearly not trusted to start up front and may be cashed in on if he doesn’t improve. Osula was nearly sold on deadline day to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Harrison Ashby and Joe White could also be sold after spending so much time out on loan.
2026 could be a year of change at Newcastle.
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