Newcastle United have been informed that a defender they have scouted since 2023 will be leaving on a free transfer this summer.
The Magpies are keen to bring in some new faces this summer to help with their European campaign next season. It has not been confirmed yet, but it is looking likely that Newcastle United will be playing Champions League football next season.
Eddie Howe’s side are currently fourth in the Premier League table, but with five games left it is still all to play for.
Sporting director Paul Mitchell thinks Champions League football will be a ‘game-changer’ for Newcastle, with the belief that higher-quality players will join the team.
Newcastle want to sign a centre-back this summer, with the likes of Dan Burn and Fabian Schar now entering the latter stages of their careers. One player, who has been on the PIF’s radar since 2023, has now confirmed that he will be leaving his club on a free transfer this summer.
Jonathan Tah confirms free transfer amid Newcastle United links
Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah has been at the club for almost a decade. However, it has been confirmed that this season will be his last.
Newcastle have been linked with Tah since 2023, a player who could save the club millions in transfer fees this summer if he were to agree a move to Tyneside.
A positive for the Magpies is that Tah shares the same agent as Sean Longstaff; there could be a chance the German is persuaded to move to the North East over any other club.
Tah confirmed his intentions to leave Leverkusen at the end of the season in an interview with Kicker. When asked if he will leave the club this summer, Tah said: “Yes. Yes, definitely.
“I don’t have a timeframe, to be honest, but the club knows about it. And I’ve been very open with them, as I always have been.
“Everything was said at the start. There was a point when I made the decision not to extend my contract and not to stay here. And that’s how it’s going to go now.”
Recent reports suggest that Tah could join Bayern Munich this summer, but the 29-year-old did not confirm his next destination.
Jonathan Tah’s statistics compared to Newcastle United defenders
There is no doubt that Tah would immediately improve Newcastle’s quality and give Howe much more strength in depth ahead of a big season with European football.
However, at 29, there will be concerns among the fanbase as to how long he will be a viable option in the starting XI before Mitchell has to sign a new centre-back.
| 2024/25 Statistics | Jonathan Tah | Dan Burn | Fabian Schar |
| Appearances | 29 | 32 | 29 |
| Tackles/90 | 0.4 | 1 | 1 |
| Interceptions/90 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.4 |
| Average Passes/90 | 72 | 53.2 | 56.8 |
Mitchell wants to bring youth to Newcastle, with a move for Dean Huijsen targeted after his fantastic performances for Bournemouth this season.
Elsewhere, the Magpies’ sporting director may look further afield to find some hidden gems.
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