Longstaff joins Leeds from Newcastle in £12m move

Sean Longstaff, a midfielder from Newcastle, has been signed by Leeds United for £12 million plus potential extensions.

The 27-year-old has a four-year contract with St James’ Park after a year of service.

After playing for the club for 18 years, the move puts an end to an 18-year association with Newcastle.

According to Longstaff, “I think from the moment I spoke to Leeds, I knew they were really interested in me.”

I knew it would take a lot for me to leave Newcastle, but I also knew it had to be somewhere else, so I knew this was the one.

“Every time I played at Leeds, the atmosphere was amazing, and it was always bouncing and difficult to play,” said one player. “I’m just looking forward to having that on my side rather than having to play against.”

He made 214 senior appearances for the Magpies, but Eddie Howe’s side only played 787 Premier League minutes, mostly as a substitute.

Longstaff also appeared in five Carabao Cup games last year, but he didn’t start for Newcastle when they lost to Liverpool 2-1 in the final to claim their first domestic trophy in 70 years.

Leeds and the English midfielder had already reached personal agreements, but Newcastle rejected a £10 million offer earlier this week.

Following the signings of German forward Lukas Nmecha, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Jaka Bijol, and Gabriel Gudmundsson, Longstaff is Leeds’ fifth signing this summer.

On August 18, Daniel Farke’s side travels to Everton to begin their Premier League campaign.

Longstaff, who was born in North Shields and was born in North Shields, made his debut for the Magpies in 2018 after initially working on-loan at Kilmarnock and Blackpool.

He briefly surfaced as a transfer target for Manchester United after his first Premier League season, but the Red Devils balked at the reported £50m asking price.

Newcastle won the Champions League game against Paris St-Germain in 2023 with the help of Longstaff, who scored 16 goals.

He started consistently in 2022 and 2023-24, but he lost last year.

Longstaff only played eight Premier League games after Christmas, with Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton all well established as midfielders.