Medical booked - Newcastle United transfer imminent for Sean Longstaff
Newcastle United are set to bank £15million from Leeds United for Sean Longstaff.
Sean Longstaff is set to undergo a medical at Leeds United today ahead of his £15million move.
An emotional farewell will see the North Shields native - who joined Newcastle United aged nine - leave his boyhood club to pursue first-team football. Longstaff was one of Eddie Howe’s biggest success stories at St James’ Park.
Before his arrival, a despondent midfielder was lacking confidence and heading for the exit under Steve Bruce. Everton made a mere £1million offer for Longstaff in 2022, such was his drop-off until Howe’s appointment.
Sean Longstaff career highlights
The 27-year-old went on to feature heavily the following season as Newcastle finished fourth. Champions League football beckoned and Longstaff scored the third goal in the memorable 4-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain.
Featuring in a win against Sunderland and bagging a brace to send Newcastle to Wembley were other career highlights. Game time proved difficult to come by last year as Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton asserted their midfield dominance.
Eddie Howe on Sean Longstaff
Longstaff has not started a Premier League game since December and Howe admitted his long-term future on Tyneside was uncertain. This out-of-character language from the Toon boss led many to believe the midfielder’s days were numbered.
“His role is to be ready to play, be ready to come on, and I've trusted him in big games where he has come on and played his part," he told reporters earlier this year. His long-term future is slightly more unclear but behind the scenes Sean has been really really good."
Sean Longstaff having Leeds United medical
He is now undergoing a medical at Leeds’ Thorp Arch training ground ahead of the move. Newcastle rejected several approaches for Longstaff but finally agreed on a £15million deal including add-ons.
Those stipulations are not thought to be difficult to meet and all income will be considered as pure profit on the balance sheet. Longstaff wanted the Magpies to receive a transfer fee rather than run down the remaining year of his contract.
One downside, however, is Newcastle’s club-trained quota for the Champions League. UEFA rules state the Magpies must name four academy stars over the age of 21 in their European squad.
Failing to do so will result in Newcastle losing a squad place for each club-trained player missing. Longstaff was the only Toon star who qualified - with Lewis Miley being too young - meaning Howe can only name a 21-man setup as it stands.