Newcastle United confirm goalkeeper deal after January transfer window decision

Max Thompson has signed a new contract at Newcastle United until the summer of 2025.

The 19-year-old goalkeeper spent the first-half of the campaign on loan at Northampton Town - where he made 20 appearances - before returning to Tyneside midway through January.

The Cobblers were keen to extend Thompson's stay but boss Jon Brady said he was returning to Newcastle to be "around their first-team squad".

With Nick Pope sidelined until mid to late March, Thompson has bolstered United's goalkeeper numbers in training alongside stand-in No.1 Martin Dubravka, Loris Karius and Mark Gillespie. Upon signing his new contract, Thompson said: "I'm really excited to continue my career with the club I've supported and grew up with. It's another opportunity to try and progress further as a footballer and, hopefully, make it as a player at Newcastle United.

"The development that has been put in place for me and a clear focus on where they want me to go were one of the main reasons in signing a new contract. It shows good faith that they see a progression in how I've been playing so I've been rewarded in that sense.

"I like to think my loan spell at Northampton went really well. I got a lot of games under my belt, which I was pleased to do. That was always the aim going out on loan and not only getting that experience of senior football but actually getting experience of playing senior football as well.

"It was a step up from what I was used to in academy football, with a different style but I feel like I adapted well and coped with the demands. From the results we picked up in the first half of the season, I think it went quite successfully.

"At the start of the season, everyone was unsure how the season was going to go after getting promoted from League Two and how difficult it may have been. By the time my loan ended, we were situated in the top half of the table which was, not so much of a surprise, but a pleasant feeling for everyone around the building at the time."

Thompson joined Newcastle's academy aged 11 and signed his first professional deal with the club in December 2021. He has represented England at under-18s level, keeping a clean sheet on his debut in a 3-0 victory over Russia two years ago.