Newcastle United have agreed a deal in principle to sell academy graduate Sean Longstaff to Leeds United.
It’s no secret that Longstaff has been facing an uncertain future at the club he joined aged nine after falling down the pecking order last season.
Longstaff’s last Premier League start came in a 4-2 defeat away to Brentford in December after Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton established themselves as the undisputed midfield three. Even his appearances as a substitute were limited with Lewis Miley and Joe Willock often preferred.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe previously confessed that Longstaff would dictate his own future. Two weeks into pre-season and the midfielder’s future is close to being resolved.
Leeds United agree deal to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff
As broken by The Athletic, Leeds have reached an agreement in principle to sign Longstaff in a deal worth £12million plus £3m in add-ons.
Longstaff has already agreed personal terms with the Elland Road club as he is keen to see his boyhood club compensated for his exit rather than face losing him as a free agent next summer.
He is currently in Austria with Eddie Howe’s squad but is set to travel to Yorkshire to undergo his medical.
Longstaff’s previous contract was due to expire this summer. That until the Magpies triggered a clause to extend his deal until 2026 to prevent losing him for free.
In a world of Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), selling academy prospects carries greater monetary value as they generate “pure profit”.
The 27-year-old has made over 200 senior appearances for Newcastle and been the scorer of some iconic goals, including one against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and a brace in the Carabao Cup semi-final versus Southampton in 2023.
Eddie Howe hinted at Sean Longstaff departure last season
Howe suggested in May that neither he nor the club would stand in Longstaff’s way if there were another opportunity he wanted to pursue.
“I think we’d work with Sean on that, I think he’s got our utmost respect,” Howe told reporters. “He’s been a brilliant servant to the football club.
“What I meant by that [he’ll dictate his future] was he has a contract with the football club. So, in some senses, he can dictate what happens with his future. Let’s wait and see on that. He’s still a very valued member of the squad. He’s got a big part to play.”
Sean Longstaff has already addressed his Newcastle United future
Speaking in November, Longstaff spoke about his future and didn’t rule out an exit.
“If it’s here [my future] it’s great. If it’s not, it’s not,” said Longstaff. “I want to be valued as a player, I want to be appreciated as a player and whether it’s here great. If it’s not here and it’s somewhere else, it’ll be somewhere else.
“In a way I live day to day, game to game and I just try and take in every game. I get to go to work every day and spend it with my best friends, I don’t know what’s coming ahead, I don’t know what’s coming down the line, I just try to embrace every day and enjoy every minute because ultimately it won’t last forever.”