Newcastle United

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Malick Thiaw has said he is "really excited to join this massive club" after joining Newcastle from AC Milan for a reported £34.6m plus add-ons.

The 24-year-old Germany defender told the club's website: "I can't wait to start training and to get to know my new team-mates and all the staff.

"The gaffer showed me his vision and what he wants to do with me as a player and the club itself, which is really exciting.

"Newcastle speaks for itself. It's a great club, a big club with passionate fans who I can't wait to see at St James' Park."

Thiaw, who has three caps for Germany, is the Magpies' third signing of a tricky summer of recruitment, after winger Anthony Elanga's arrival from Nottingham Forest and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale on loan from Southampton.

Bringing in a new centre-back was a priority for Newcastle this summer as manager Eddie Howe looks to increase competition and lower the average age of an experienced squad.

Howe said on the signing: "We're really pleased to have Malick on board. He's a player I've admired for a long time and somebody who will add real quality to our defensive options.

"Malick is still young but brings valuable experience of Champions League football, as well as playing in the Bundesliga and Serie A, which is a major positive for us as we return to Europe this season."

What do you make of this signing? Are you happy Thiaw strengthens the defence or would you have preferred a different recruit? And who needs to be next through the door and why?

Get in touch with your views here

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

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It already feels like this season might be a tricky one for Newcastle United. Pre-season and the transfer window thus far have been blighted - losses in games we expected (or, maybe, hoped) to win, and almost a bi-weekly thwart of our transfer targets. We wouldn't want things to be easy now would we?

So then, am I hopeful for the season ahead? My dad text me after our two home friendlies this weekend and said "it's going to be a long season". So to offer balance to his obvious lack of hope, I say yes. I say yes because even though our transfer activity has been chaotic and objectively bad, we still have several absolutely class international players in our squad. At time of writing, Alexander Isak remains a Newcastle player. And Eddie Howe remains our head coach. These are all buoying thoughts. I hope we not only manage to hold onto Isak but can clear the air with him for the season ahead. It benefits team and player!

I don't think it'll be easy. Champions League football isn't supposed to be easy, and we could have done with reinforcements. I'm worried about what literally one injury to a key player will do to derail our season. We were in the Champions League two seasons ago playing in Paris without a full bench. I hoped we'd be further away from that situation. But the window isn't closed, and we thrive when we're the underdog, right? So it'll all be completely fine!

If this all reads like I'm not only trying to convince you, but also myself, there may be an element of that. I'm determined to go into this season positive. We've got loads to play for, and we need to back the squad and manager.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

Get more from Charlotte on this page all season and remember you can sign up for Newcastle news notifications here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

With Alexander Isak reportedly determined to leave Newcastle United this summer, it is looking increasingly likely he will be playing his football elsewhere in the future.

It means that the Magpies are highly likely to kick off their Premier League campaign at Aston Villa on Saturday without their star striker and must instead look to other assets to absorb Isak's influence in front of goal.

The task is something of a thankless one. Isak scored 23 goals and provided six assists in the Premier League last season, meaning he was directly involved in more than 40% of Newcastle's total league goals - scoring 33.8% of them.

No other Magpies player scored more than nine league goals last term – and that was winger Harvey Barnes.

Jacob Murphy is likely to once again play a key role after scoring eight times and registering 12 assists last campaign, while new signing Anthony Elanga was involved in nearly 30% of Nottingham Forest's league goals in 2024-25 – although, like Murphy, the bulk of Elanga's contribution was in setting up team-mates, rather than finding the back of the net. He recorded six goals and provided 11 assists.

So Newcastle's biggest quandary remains - who will take the chances at Villa Park come Saturday lunchtime? And who can replace a player of Isak's quality should he depart with the transfer window just under three weeks from closing?

Newcastle have a strong interest in Leicester City and Morocco attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, 21, but face competition from Leeds. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Brentford are in talks to sign Rennes' French striker Arnaud Kalimuendo, with the Bees slightly more advanced in negotiations for the 23-year-old. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Meanwhile, Alexander Isak will only consider reintegrating at Newcastle or signing a new deal if Liverpool directly inform him a deal is impossible this summer. (Givemesport) , external

Monaco are interested in signing Magpies right-back Kieran Trippier. (Sky Sports), external

Finally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has sacked his agent as he attempts to find a new club. The 28-year-old England striker has held talks with Newcastle, Manchester United and Leeds. (Talksport), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Aaron Ramsdale spoke to the media after making his unofficial home debut for Newcastle: "It was good fun to get a run out. It was a nice vibe and to get a taste of what it is going to be like is something special.

"I have been on the grass twice [with Newcastle] so connections will slowly get there. The great thing is that I know a few of the lads personally so I've slotted in really well. I know all of the backroom and coaching staff so it has been a seamless transition."

He was asked on the differences between working with Eddie Howe at Bournemouth and now: "It is still very similar and something that I have missed. It is like being back to normal for me. I remembered bits that we used to do and it brought a smile back to my face. I can walk into it and get going straight away."

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We asked for your views on whether Newcastle are ready for the new season as they prepare to kick off at Aston Villa on Saturday.

Here are some of your comments:

Tony: Nowhere near ready. No recognised proven striker available to play, an ageing leaky defence, very few additions to an already thin squad and an unsettled player dispute going on behind the scenes. All that, and a less than convincing pre-season, says to me we are way off where we need to be if we want to push on from last season.

Joe: All the focus on the Isak situation has meant the lack of depth in our midfield has gone under the radar. An injury to any of Tonali, Bruno or Joelinton - regardless of how impressive young Miley continues to be - would cripple us. At least one new addition is required in that department. Seven days is a long time in football. A few new signings and a positive performance against Villa will certainly help to lift the gloomy clouds over St James' Park.

Alex: It's a mixed bag. Not won all pre-season. The whole Isak debacle has been a big distraction and has clearly stressed Eddie Howe out. Very few targets have been acquired. However, Ramsdale looked decent on his debut on Friday, Elanga showed his pace off on Saturday and one or two youth players have shown desire on the pitch during the friendlies. A couple more transfers in and get the Isak situation under control and everything will be fine.

Sarah: We are about as ready as a contestant on Masterchef with no eggs and we are supposed to be making a pavlova. Isak has whipped us all into a frenzy but the yolk may well be on him.

Don: I'd like to think so but if I am realistic then I don't think they are! Having watched all the pre-season games I think they are actually weaker (or slower, or less fit) than they were in June. Obviously the situation with Isak is not helping and punishing him now has left us with no viable striker. Gordon can run himself silly and cause problems for the opposition regardless of which position he plays in - but he is not a striker! I like the look of Elanga but, apart from his first game, he has not made an impact. I am just hoping that since we haven't played with a full 'first team' throughout the summer, things will get immediately better when we do.

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Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak has behaved "despicably" as he tries to force a move to Liverpool this summer, that's according to The Telegraph's Luke Edwards.

Isak has been training separately from his team-mates this summer after pulling out of their pre-season tour through injury.

Edwards, the northern football writer for The Telegraph, believes it was always a move he could see coming, but he is surprised at the way Isak has conducted himself.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Podcast, he said: "Everybody knew he was one of the most coveted players in Europe, and people knew he would get to a point where he felt he had outgrown Newcastle.

"The message has always been the same that he would not be allowed to leave and that he is not for sale and that stance has not changed. What has changed is that nobody anticipated that Isak would behave as badly as he has done.

"He is effectively refusing to play and he is desperate to force his way out. Newcastle's stance is being put under the ultimate stress test because you have a player willing to burn bridges on his way out. I think he is behaving despicably."

The Sweden international remains at the club with the start of the Premier League season on the horizon, putting Newcastle, and boss Eddie Howe, in a difficult situation.

"You've got a board, in Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund that aren't bullied in any kind of business that they do and they are insisting he will not go, but in the middle you've got Eddie Howe," added Edwards.

"The problem Liverpool have got is that they went in too low with the first bid and Newcastle need two strikers in three weeks. It would look bad for them to buckle having had the stance that he won't be sold, only to then go and sell him."

Listen to full episode on BBC Sounds here.

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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was asked how prepared he feels before the Premier League starting this weekend in the aftermath of a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid: "Physically the players are very good but mentally is a different question. There has been challenges this summer that we haven't faced before and the general feeling in the group has been down, especially early in pre-season.

"Alex [Isak] is such a popular player in the dressing room and any disruption around a player of that calibre is going to affect the group.

"I think they have responded really well to it but it is still there in the background. It is an unwelcomed disruption. We have to get used to it and if anything it has to make us stronger."

On what needs to be done before the season kicks off this weekend: "We need some more work in our sharpness. We are physically fit, but in the movements, one-v-one duels and the end actions haven't really been there [against Atletico Madrid].

"Our squad depth at the moment, we are stretched in midfield with Joe Willock's injury. With Champions League football the bodies we need and squad we are going to need, the depth isn't quite there at the moment."

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Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter

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It is easy to forget that Newcastle United were, technically, still in the race to finish as runners-up with just a couple of games to go last season.

Newcastle ended up in fifth, but the club had real momentum going into the summer after qualifying for the Champions League and ending the club's long wait for silverware.

Only this has not proved a transformative window.

Newcastle have missed out on a host of targets, including Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, James Trafford, Liam Delap and Dean Huijsen.

The Alexander Isak saga continues to drag on and there has been further upheaval in the boardroom following the departure of sporting director Paul Mitchell.

It has been far from ideal.

Newcastle still have a side capable of going toe-to-toe with the very best, as the Magpies proved against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, but this thin squad needs urgent reinforcements to fight on four fronts.

Nicolas Jackson favours a move to Newcastle United should the Senegal striker, 24, leave Chelsea during the summer transfer window. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Newcastle will wait to resolve the future of Sweden striker Alexander Isak, 25, before deciding whether to move for Chelsea striker Jackson. (PA news agency), external

Newcastle have made a bid for Brentford's Yoane Wissa, but Liverpool are monitoring the situation as they see the DR Congo forward, 28, as an alternative if they fail to sign Isak. (Caught Offside), external

France forward Randal Kolo Muani, 26, would prefer to join Juventus than Newcastle after spending the second half of last season on loan with the Italian club from Paris St-Germain. (Teamtalk), external

Sunderland have enquired about signing 26-year-old English defender Lloyd Kelly, who has just joined Juventus on an obligation-to-buy move after an initial loan from Newcastle. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Pre-season is completed and the countdown to the 2025-26 season is on.

It's been a frustrating summer at Newcastle with many transfer targets opting to move elsewhere and star man Alexander Isak currently training away from the first team amid fierce speculation about his future.

The Magpies start the season at Aston Villa on Saturday - but are they ready?

Get in touch with your views here

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Newcastle ended their pre-season with a 2-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid at St James' Park on Saturday.

Second half goals from Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann consigned the Magpies to their fourth defeat in six friendlies, with the other two finishing as draws.

Their will be further concern for Eddie Howe as forward Anthony Gordon hobbled off late on after receiving treatment for a leg problem.

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Eddie Howe says he "can't involve" Alexander Isak at Newcastle United as things stand.

Newcastle rejected a bid from Liverpool last week after the striker wanted to explore his options.

Howe has previously warned no player could expect to act "poorly and train with group as normal".

The Magpies boss has not closed the door on Isak one day representing Newcastle again - but stressed on Friday that the situation "had to be right for that to happen".

"We've had discussions and it's clear at the moment that we can't involve him with the group," he said after Newcastle's 2-2 draw in a friendly on Friday against Espanyol. "I don't know how long that will be for, but that's the latest."

"I'd want Alex to be playing today. I'd want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us.

"Let me make that absolutely clear. There's no part of me that doesn't want that outcome, but I don't see the current situation changing for Aston Villa."

Listen to Howe's full post-Espanyol chat on BBC Sounds

Read the latest on Newcastle's summer here

You have been sharing your stories and photos about why you love Newcastle.

Here is a final selection of your submissions, but do make sure you scroll down this page to see all the best responses from throughout the week:

Howard: I've been a supporter since 1965.

In 1968, I was appointed first cashier at Lloyds on Newgate Street where Newcastle United banked. Every home game we would go to the ground to collect the takings from the gate men.

I have many stories around this, including how we came to almost lead the players out for the first leg of the Fairs Cup Final.

After they won the cup, Bobby Moncur came to the branch with the cup as the club felt they needed to improve security and asked that we hold it for safekeeping and handed the cup to me. No selfies in those days.

John: I was born in North Shields, but moved away when I was three. Newcastle United became the tether that kept me rooted there, no matter the distance. My first ever football match wasn't even at Newcastle but hiding within the home fans at the City Ground in Nottingham. My dad was praying that eight-year-old me would keep quiet when Shearer put away a penalty right in front of us. We made it through undetected, a win for the Toon in our memory, and shared a laugh on the way home at our 'secret mission'.