Paul Mitchell wants Antonio Cordero repeat at Newcastle United with 17-year-old star, but there’s a catch

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Newcastle United are set to announce the signing of 18-year-old winger Antonio Cordero from Malaga.

The Magpies have continued their youth recruitment drive in the 2024/25 campaign, bringing in several promising young players to link up with the academy.

Last summer, Newcastle United welcomed the likes of Rory Finneran, who has become a regular starter for the under-18s.

In January, Newcastle signed Kyle Fitzgerald and Baran Yildiz. The pair have made a positive start to life on Tyneside, both scoring and assisting a number of goals.

Antonio Cordero is set to become a Newcastle player this summer after agreeing on a contract with the club. It is believed that Cordero rejected Real Madrid and Barcelona to join Newcastle, a sign that sporting director Paul Mitchell can lure promising players from across Europe to the North East.

As Newcastle prepare for Cordero’s arrival, Mitchell wants to bring another young Spanish star to the club, but there is a catch.

• Who is Antonio Cordero? Meet the exciting Spanish teenager Newcastle United have signed on a free transfer

Newcastle United want to sign 17-year-old Daniel Fitzgerald

You can be forgiven if you have not heard of him before, but Daniel Fitzgerald has caught the eye of Newcastle scouts in recent months.

At just 17, the attacking midfielder has impressed at youth level this season, scoring 10 goals in 30 matches.

According to Spanish outlet esportbase, the young Elche star Fitzgerald had a €200,000 (£169,000) release clause, which Spanish giants Atletico Madrid are willing to pay.

Due to Fitzgerald’s age, FIFA laws mean he cannot move outside of Spain, so Newcastle must wait a year before signing him.

The report states that when he turns 18 on January 1, 2026, Newcastle can sign him from Atleti.

While both clubs are eager to do a deal, the report suggests that Elche hold the aces because they are set to offer him a lucrative contract with the plan to make him a first-team player in the future.

• READ MORE – The decision Paul Mitchell made on Sean Longstaff at Newcastle United months ago

Newcastle United youngster tells Paul Mitchell not to loan him out

Since the takeover in 2021, Newcastle have commonly poached young talents from rival academies to develop them on Tyneside.

Aaron Epia joined Newcastle from Everton last summer, while 15-year-old Sam Alabi has already impressed Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.

Alabi trained with Newcastle’s first team earlier in 2025, showing he has the potential to play for Newcastle in the future.

Mitchell wants Newcastle’s young players to be loaned out next season, but Yildiz opposes that idea.

In a recent interview, Yildiz said he wants to stay at Newcastle and earn his place in the first team soon. He may not get his wish as Mitchell has already instructed the former head of academy coaching, Jack Ross, to get players like him a loan move.