Whether Jacob Ramsey will be eligible to play against Aston Villa as Newcastle United move nears

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Newcastle United are in talks over a deal for Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey in a deal worth around £40million.

Having just confirmed the signing of Malick Thiaw, the Magpies are eager to get another signing over the line before the first Premier League game of the season.

Newcastle United are hoping to add a new midfielder to their squad this summer following the departure of Sean Longstaff and yet another injury blow for Joe Willock. The search has led Newcastle to Aston Villa ace Jacob Ramsey, who is free to leave the Midlands side due to their lingering PSR issues.

Ramsey enjoyed a positive 2024/25 campaign, registering six goal involvements in the Premier League. The 24-year-old also made 10 Champions League appearances last term, playing against the likes of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

Geordie Boot Boys understand that Eddie Howe is a ‘huge fan’ of Ramsey, and the Magpies are in pole position for his signature, despite interest from the likes of Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham United. With talks between Newcastle and Ramsey intensifying, there is a chance he could feature against his former club in the Magpies’ Premier League opener on Saturday. However, there is one rule which could prevent Ramsey from playing.

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Newcastle United have a deadline to register Jacob Ramsey before Aston Villa clash

Ramsey has stated that he only wants to join Newcastle, despite the interest elsewhere. His stance should mean that Newcastle will not have a hard time signing him, but they are in a race against the clock to secure his signature ahead of the first Premier League game of the season.

Premier League rules state that clubs must register new signings before 12pm on the working day before the game. So in this case, Newcastle have until noon on Friday, 15 August to agree a deal with Villa and Ramsey, take his medical, sign him and register him.

When it is put like that, the task seems very daunting. However, the two clubs appear to be on the same terms with the fee, and personal terms between Ramsey and Newcastle should not be an issue.

Reports suggest that Ramsey will cost Newcastle around £40million, a steep fee but one which should be paid for a player of Ramsey’s quality, especially after the season he has had.

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What Newcastle United are saying about getting the Jacob Ramsey deal done

After the initial reports on Tuesday stating that there was an interest in Ramsey from Newcastle, and that the player is open to joining, there has been movement following late-night discussions.

According to Craig Hope, Newcastle are now confident that they can agree a deal for Ramsey on Wednesday, and expect that to be the case.

Additionally, there is confidence that Ramsey will be a Newcastle player before the weekend, but it remains to be seen whether he will be registered in time to play against his former club.

Howe was desperate to sign a new midfielder after Longstaff left, and he is finally getting someone who is arguably an improvement on the Newcastle academy graduate. Fans will have to wait and see if Ramsey will immediately break into the starting XI on Tyneside, or if he will have to force his way into the side.