Sean Longstaff joins Newcastle for Leeds in a £12 million transfer
Longstaff becomes Leeds’ fifth summer signing
Newly promoted Leeds United have signed midfielder Sean Longstaff from Newcastle for £12 million, plus potential bonuses.
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The transfer ends an 18-year relationship with Newcastle, where he came up through the club’s youth department.
“I felt from the first time I spoke to Leeds that they really wanted me,” Longstaff told LUTV.
“It gives you enormous confidence, and it makes you want to reciprocate it. Leeds is a huge club – in many ways similar to Newcastle.”
“It really had to be something special for me to leave Newcastle and I wasn’t going anywhere. It had to be the right place for me and my family, and I think this is perfect.”
“Every time I’ve played at Elland Road, the atmosphere has been fantastic – it’s always been a difficult away pitch. Now I’m looking forward to having it on my side instead.”
Longstaff made 214 appearances for Newcastle, but only got 787 minutes in the Premier League for Eddie Howe’s side last season – mainly as a substitute.
He also played five games in the Carabao Cup, but was an unused substitute as Newcastle beat Liverpool 2-1 in the final to win their first trophy in 70 years.
Leeds had already agreed personal terms with the England midfielder, but had a £10 million bid rejected by Newcastle earlier this week.
Longstaff will be Leeds’ fifth summer signing, after defenders Sebastiaan Bornauw, Jaka Bijol and Gabriel Gudmundsson, as well as German striker Lukas Nmecha.
Daniel Farke’s team opens the Premier League season at home against Everton on August 18.
Before that, they play a friendly against Manchester United in Stockholm on Saturday, followed by clashes against Villarreal and AC Milan in August.
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Longstaff follows in the family’s footsteps
Longstaff, who was born in North Shields, joined Newcastle as a nine-year-old and made his debut in 2018 after loan spells at Kilmarnock and Blackpool.
His good play in his first Premier League season made him a short-lived transfer target for Manchester United, but the Reds turned down Newcastle’s alleged £50 million price.
Longstaff scored 16 goals for Newcastle, including one in a memorable Champions League win over Paris St-Germain in 2023.
He was a regular on the team in both 2022-23 and 2023-24, but lost his place last season.
With Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton establishing midfield chains, Longstaff started just eight Premier League games – none after Christmas.
The move to Leeds gives him a chance for more playing time and allows him to follow in the footsteps of his uncle Alan Thompson, a former Bolton, Aston Villa and Celtic player, who also had a stint at Leeds towards the end of his career.
