Big sales of players Newcastle manager Eddie Howe wanted to keep became a pill too big to swallow.

Eddie Howe is leaving Newcastle just weeks before the Premier League season kicks off – a shocking farewell that no one had seen coming.

Howe has been preparing the Magpies for the new season, but on Wednesday the team suffered a real blow when they lost 4-1 to Bristol City. Still, it’s not the results that bring him down – it’s a disappointing transfer window in which both Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon were sold, coupled with Howe’s own desire to pull away.

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Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reports that Howe and Newcastle are parting ways with “immediate effect” – and that talks over the replacement are already underway. David Ornstein of The Athletic follows up with Howe informing the club that he wants a break from football after five intense years at the helm.

The replacement has already been selected

Newcastle’s desire for a new manager is clear: Al Ahli boss Matthias Jaissle. He works at a club that is also majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – just like Newcastle. The talks with the 38-year-old are said to be in a very advanced phase.

Newcastle have yet to make an official statement about Howe’s departure, but it is believed that the 48-year-old was originally intended to continue – before changing his mind at the last minute.

Howe’s legacy in Newcastle

Howe leaves behind a solid legacy. He led Newcastle to the club’s first trophy in 70 years when they won the Carabao Cup in 2025 with victory over Liverpool at Wembley. In addition, he secured Champions League football on two occasions.

Now it’s over. Newcastle loses the manager who rebuilt the club – and the search for a new era starts immediately.

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