Newcastle United confirm striker departure amid contract decision

Newcastle United striker Dylan Stephenson has joined National League North side South Shields on loan until the end of the season - which is set to bring an end to his seven-year spell at the club.

The 21-year-old has progressed through the United academy and earned an opportunity to train with Eddie Howe’s first-team squad over the last 18 months.

Stephenson’s progression was also rewarded with a senior debut as a late substitute in a pre-season friendly win over Serie A club Atalanta in August 2022 and he bagged a first goal in a mid-season friendly hammering of Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.

That led to speculation Stephenson was being readied for the first loan move of his career and the young forward admitted he wanted to follow the example set by fellow Magpie Elliot Anderson by making an impact away from Tyneside.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with NewcastleWorld in January last year, Stephenson said: “You see other players that go out and they get the experience, they come back and they are like a totally different player.

“Elliot (Anderson) is an example of that, he went out on loan to Bristol Rovers, he shined there, and he came back a much better player and look where he is now. He’s the one I do look up to because I’ve played with him from under-15s all the way through until he started being up there (with the first-team squad) all of the time.

"(I) definitely want to go out on loan to get experience and experience men’s football, see what it’s like. Obviously I had a bit with the Papa John’s Trophy but you want to be surrounded by men’s football and everything that comes with it.”

A loan spell with Scottish Championship club Hamilton Academical was completed just days later and Stephenson netted his first competitive goal at senior level in a 1-0 debut win at Partick Thistle.  That would prove to be the only goal of his time at New Douglas Park and he returned to Tyneside during the summer to feature in several friendlies for the Magpies Under-21s.

As revealed by NewcastleWorld earlier this month, Newcastle were open to allowing Stephenson to move elsewhere on loan for the remainder of the season and effectively bring an end to his time with his boyhood club. No talks have taken place over a new contract.

A number of Scottish Championship, National League and National League North clubs had registered an interest in Stephenson and the forward as opted to reunite with former under-21s coach Elliot Dickman at South Shields.