It has certainly been an eventful summer break for Newcastle United.
After a pre-season defeat to Bristol City, long-term head coach Eddie Howe decided to leave the club - ending a five-year stint which saw multiple European campaigns and famous league results, not to mention delivering the first piece of silverware in 70 years with their 2025 Carabao Cup triumph.
His departure came during a period of significant player losses, including club captain and midfield general Bruno Guimarães, who pushed for and was granted a big-money move to reigning league champions Arsenal.
Replacing Howe is German coach Matthias Jaissle, who won back-to-back AFC Champions League titles as head coach of Al Ahli.
Jaissle will bring high-intensity, press-heavy football to St James' Park, and fans will be hoping he can establish leadership figures in the squad, find suitable replacements for key departures, and steer the Magpies back into European contention.
Here is VAVEL's 2026/27 season preview for Newcastle United.
2025/26 Season Recap
Words by Mosaddek Abu
Going into the 25/26 season, there were hopes that Newcastle would follow up on their previous season's success, which ended their long wait for a first domestic trophy and saw them qualify for the Champions League.
However, off-pitch drama disrupted the Magpies' start to the season, with their first win coming only in early September against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Their first away win didn't come until late November in a 4-1 victory over Everton.
Their problem was consistency; they struggled to pick up points away from home, winning only 2 of their 10 away games in the first half of the season. They enjoyed the highs of the Champions League, making it to the round of 16, and came close to another Wembley Final, reaching the Carabao Cup semi-final, but lost to Arsenal.
These small positives didn't outweigh their poor finish to the season: they conceded the most points from winning positions, with four wins on the road and five at home, and lost both Tyne-Wear derby games, with a forgettable FA Cup run in between.
Newcastle struggled to get going, failing to find any rhythm to put their season on track, ending with a final-day defeat to Fulham, finishing with 14 wins and 17 losses and ending up 12th.
Transfer activity
Words by Brandon Williams
Although they have spent nearly £140 million already, Newcastle’s pre-season has been dominated by departures.
Captain Bruno Guimaraes packed his bags to join Arsenal, Sandro Tonali exited to the white half of North London in Tottenham, and Anthony Gordon had barely settled into World Cup mode before his dream transfer to Barcelona was confirmed.
Add to that the resignation of head coach of five years Eddie Howe, and the Magpies are all of a sudden feeling on the unlucky side.
It may be £245 million on the books, but the significant role each player has played in recent seasons will be tricky to replace right away. However, there are those incomings that give fans reason to look to the future.
Goalkeepers Ewan Jaouen and Lukas Hornicek, midfielders Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba, winger Bazoumana Toure, and centre-forward Afner Ca have helped fill out the squad for the beginning of the campaign.
All of them are inexperienced in Premier League football and, bar 24-year-old Hornicek, all are under the age of 20.
Player to Watch
Words by Theo Tarling
It seemed that last summer, Will Osula’s time at Newcastle United was coming to an end after a £30 million bid from Eintracht Frankfurt was accepted on deadline day; however, the Bundesliga side wanted to change the terms from a permanent deal to a loan with an option to buy, according to the Daily Mail, which saw the move eventually fall apart.
With Yoane Wissa missing the early parts of the season, Osula reaped the rewards, scoring seven goals in 24 Premier League matches, including a brilliant last-minute winner against Manchester United in March.
Under new boss Matthias Jaissle, Osula has played in a couple of different roles so far, starting at centre-forward against Valencia, before playing as a 10 and behind Wissa against Everton.
He will have competition from the former Brentford striker, as well as Nick Woltemade, but if Osula can kick on from his encouraging 25/26, he could pose a big threat in Newcastle United’s new era.
Strongest XI
Words by Sam Leah
Lukáš Horníček is expected to be the Magpies’ starting keeper between the sticks, with fellow new signing Ewan Jaowen serving as deputy. Nick Pope may end up seeking more regular game time elsewhere after four years at the club.
If Jaissle opts for a back four, Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw can form a strong centre-back pairing, whilst Lewis Hall appears to match the profile of full-back that the new head coach favours.
At the time of writing, the club are in advanced talks to sign Amar Dedić from Benfica, who could usurp Valentino Livramento at right-back.
Newcastle’s midfield will look vastly different due to the number of departures, and could force a switch from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1. Lewis Miley and Joelinton are the experienced duo that are expected to start most often, though the additions of Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba could force their way into the lineup.
Jacob Ramsay is also a versatile option that could play deeper, or in a more attacking role as an alternative to Nick Woltemade.
Harvey Barnes is expected to lock down the left wing after Gordon’s departure, with Bazoumana Toure offering strong backup. Anthony Elanga should fill in on the right, with Yoane Wissa completing the lineup.
Manager's tactics
Words by Olufunmilayo Olusanya
Eddie Howe’s “Howe-ball” defined Newcastle United’s 2025/26 tactics.
Built on high intensity, aggression and progressive, vertical football, the side prioritised winning the ball high and attacking quickly rather than prolonged possession.
The primary formation was a 4-3-3, with full-backs providing width, inverted or wide wingers, and midfielders flooding the box with runners. Overlaps, underlaps and back-post crosses were key attacking weapons, supported by rapid transitions and high-speed sprints. Sandro Tonali frequently operated as the deep-lying midfielder, offering balance and progressive passing. Occasional switches to a back three (often 3-4-3) provided defensive solidity against stronger opponents.
Out of possession, Newcastle used a selective high press led by the front three, combined with fierce counter-pressing. They could also drop into a compact 4-5-1 mid or low block. Nick Pope’s sweeper-keeper role supported a relatively high defensive line.
Set-pieces became a notable strength later in the season. Despite finishing 12th in the Premier League, reaching the Champions League round of 16 and the EFL Cup semi-finals, the demanding style contributed to fatigue across a congested campaign. Howe stepped down at the end of the season.
Expectations for the season
Words by Mosaddek Abu
They had enjoyed the highs of a first domestic trophy in 70 years with the Carabao Cup in 2025 and Champions League qualification for the second time under Eddie Howe.
What followed was a transfer saga that played out all summer and compromised their season, as Newcastle finished 12th last season, struggling for consistency and European balance, with two defeats to their local rivals in between.
Heading into the new season comes uncertainty for the first time in a while in the PIF era: a new manager and a new crop of young players who haven't played in the Premier League before.
Newcastle still need at least four to five additions to their squad, as despite Sean Steur, Bazoumana Toure, Aladji Bamba and Lukáš Horníček impressing in pre-season, there is still a lack of experience and cover in certain departments.
But one beneficiary of Matthias Jaissle and his Magpies is no European football, meaning they will have more time to work on the training ground. Consistency will be the theme for Newcastle this season; if they can deliver in their performances and avoid long runs of bad results, then a finish just inside the top ten will be feasible.
