Newcastle United defender completes Watford loan move as three more Magpies close on moves

Watford have completed the loan signing of Newcastle United defender Jamal Lewis.

The 30-times capped Northern Ireland international will spend the entirety of the 2023/24 season with the Championship club, who also have an option to convert the loan into a permanent deal at the end of the campaign.

The move sees Lewis move into the second tier for the first time since he helped Norwich City to the Championship title in 2019 and earned a place in the division’s team of the year. After making 28 Premier League appearances in the Canaries unsuccessful attempt to avoid relegation, Lewis remained in the top tier after making a £15million move to Tyneside during the summer of 2020.

However, injuries have limited Lewis to just 36 appearances for the Magpies and he made four in all competitions last season as he struggled to find his way into Eddie Howe’s side. The United manager revealed Lewis was close to a move away from St James Park when he was asked about the future of several of his players earlier this week.

He said: “Jamal Lewis is probably the nearest to securing a loan move to Watford. That is closest in the pipeline and that will get done in the next 24 hours.”

That move has now officially been completed and the 25-year-old will hope to kickstart his career with the Hornets as they look to move on from a disappointing season that saw them finish outside of the top ten in the Championship.

Lewis was the second Magpies player to depart on loan on Thursday after defender Kelland Watts agreed to spend the season with League One club Wigan Athletic. Goalkeeper Karl Darlow is also on the brink of a departure as he closes in on a move to Leeds United after the two club agreed a reported £400,000 deal for the long-serving stopper.

Confirmation is still awaited over Allan Saint-Maximin’s move to Saudi Pro-League club Al Ahli and Harrison Ashby is also said to be attracting interest from Swansea City as the Magpies being to create space in Eddie Howe’s squad with a view to adding to their three summer singings.