'Loving it' - Newcastle United signing opens up on decision to leave Wolves

England youth international Leo Shahar has opened up on his decision to leave Wolverhampton Wanderers for Newcastle United.

The 16-year-old joined the Magpies' academy last summer after 10 years at Wolves. Shahar has featured regularly for Graeme Carrick's under-18s and made one Papa John's Trophy appearance - a 2-1 defeat away to League Two side Crewe Alexandra.

Speaking about his move to Tyneside, the right-back told the club's matchday programme: "Since joining Newcastle, I've been loving it and I think I've settled in very quickly. All the lads around the academy are great and have helped me to kick-start my journey with this great football club.

"I knew a few of the lads before I signed and that only helps our relationships on and off the pitch, benefiting the team as a whole as we're able to connect more."

Shahar said joining Newcastle was too good to turn down having had the opportunity to play in the UEFA Youth League, where he featured in four of the six Group F matches.

He added: "I'd been at Wolves since the age of six so it was always going to be difficult to leave a club that you've been with for so long, but I thought the opportunity was really hard to turn down, with the chance of playing in the Youth League as well as featuring at under-21s level. I was keen to take it.

"Joining a new club has helped to push my development on and makes me want more opportunities, like in the Youth League and under-21s level. I also want to try and get into the England squad for next summer's European under-17s Championship finals in Cyprus, which I think I can do."