Newcastle United contract confusion as transfer clause announced for next summer
Newcastle United left-back Jamal Lewis has completed his surprise move to Brazilian giants Sao Paulo.
The 26-year-old spent last season on loan at Watford but returned to Newcastle in pre-season after the Championship club passed up the option to sign him permanently. He was expected to return to the same division this summer but he remained a Magpies player when the English transfer window closed on Friday.
It appeared his future was left in limbo until news emerged of a move to Sao Paulo. Lewis arrived at Guarulhos International Airport on Sunday and has now finalised his switch. As per the Brazilian club, he arrives on loan “until June 30, 2025, with an option to buy.”
Lewis was thought to be out-of-contract next summer, which has sparked some confusion. He becomes the first-ever British player to play for Sao Paulo is their 94-year history.
“When I heard about this opportunity, I immediately told my agent that I wanted to come to Brazil,” said Lewis. “It’s an honor to play for a giant like Sao Paulo and to be the first British player in the club’s history.
“I’m really excited to play for a club that has won three World Cups. It’s an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I’m looking forward to meeting the fans and contributing to the team.”
Lewis joined Newcastle from Norwich City in 2020 for £15million and has gone on to make 36 appearances. His last competitive outing came on the final day of the 2022-23 season as a substitute away to Chelsea.
Football director Carlos Belmonte said: “We used the creativity and assessments of our analysis team to come up with the name of Jamal Lewis, a full-back with the characteristics we were looking for.
“He is a young player with experience in English football, which certainly gives him important experience. He is another player who will strengthen our group in the three competitions we are competing in.”
Lewis is now flying to Northern Ireland to link up with the national squad for their Nations League double-header with Luxembourg and Bulgaria.
“Jamal Lewis is a player with experience in one of the great centres of world football,” said President Julio Casares. “A representative of the Northern Ireland national team, and with experience in important clubs in England, he can contribute a lot to the development of our squad, especially at such an important moment as the one we are experiencing,”