Eddie Howe is set to depart his role as Newcastle United head coach less than a month before the start of the new Premier League season, according to multiple reports.
The 48-year-old Englishman's impending exit was reported by the BBC and the Press Association on Thursday, bringing an end to a near five-year tenure that transformed the Saudi-backed club's fortunes.
Howe, appointed in November 2021, took over a Newcastle side fighting relegation and guided them to Champions League qualification twice. His defining achievement came last season when he led the Magpies to English League Cup glory, ending the club's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy. The 2-1 victory at Wembley secured the club's first silverware since the 1955 FA Cup.
However, the landscape at St James' Park has shifted dramatically this summer. Star players Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have both departed during the current transfer window, while captain Bruno Guimaraes is the subject of intense speculation. Newcastle sold top scorer Alexander Isak last year, finished 12th in the Premier League, and missed out on European qualification entirely. The squad that once challenged for top-four places now faces an uncertain future.
Howe took charge of Newcastle's 4-1 pre-season friendly defeat to Bristol City on Wednesday — a result that underscored the challenges facing a squad depleted by a summer of significant departures.
Financial Fair Play regulations have constrained Newcastle's Saudi-backed ownership, preventing the kind of lavish spending seen at Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. Despite being backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund since the 2021 takeover, the club has been forced to sell key players to balance the books and reinvest.
Howe's departure marks the end of a transformative chapter for Newcastle. When he arrived, the club was second from bottom in the Premier League. He leaves it with a trophy, two Champions League campaigns, and a foundation that will need to be rebuilt under new leadership.
The Magpies are already reported to be moving quickly to identify a successor as they prepare for the new season, with pre-season already underway and the Premier League campaign just weeks away.
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