Newcastle United transfer exit ‘leaked’ as ex-West Ham man spotted in training

Harrison Ashby’s loan move to Swansea City is set to be announced after the right-back was seemingly spotted training with the Championship club.

The 21-year-old returned to Tyneside along with the rest of Newcastle United’s first-team squad on Sunday night after taking part in the Premier League Summer Series in the United States.

The Magpies faced Aston Villa, Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion, and Ashby was involved in the latter two matches, first as a substitute and then as a starter.

Those appearances, along with cameos against Gateshead and Rangers, in which he scored a late winner at Ibrox, were Ashby’s first senior outings for United since joining from West Ham United in January.

But rather than be retained for the 2023-24 Premier League season, Magpies head coach Eddie Howe has sanctioned Ashby’s season-long loan move to Swansea.

Swans boss Michael Duff confirmed three medicals were due to take place on Monday. Ukrainian forward Mykola Kukharevych and goalkeeper Carl Rushworth signed earlier this week with Ashby is expected to be next.

“There are three medicals booked for Monday morning, so we’re hoping they all come through,” said Swans boss Michael Duff on Saturday.

“You never know in football, someone might gazump us or they might fail their medicals hence the reason I never say who they are because if they fail a medical it’s not fair on the player because it might affect a move somewhere else.

“I think there’s a couple of loan moves in there.”

Although the two clubs are yet to officially announce the transfer, it appears to have already been sealed - following impressive detective work by this Swansea fan.

In a training gallery published by the Welsh club, a snap of Azeem Abdulai features the arm of an unidentified player whose tattoos are identical to Ashby’s.

Swansea host Birmingham City in their Championship opener on Saturday.