Rating Newcastle United's top 15 most expensive signings ever - including £63m striker and Everton wonderkid
Newcastle United have had an exceptional record in the transfer window in recent seasons
Newcastle United have enjoyed a tremendous ascent back to the top of English football in recent years and a lot of that has been down to their excellent ability to recruit well in recent transfer windows.
When Eddie Howe arrived at Newcastle in October 2021, he inherited a team that were bottom of the table and winless with only five points from 11 matches. It was a very much a time of doom and gloom around the Toon while Mike Ashley was at the club, but since the appointment of Howe and the Saudi-backed PIF takeover, the club have sky rocketed up the league, qualifying for the Champions League on two occasions, reaching two Carabao Cup finals and most notably ending a 70-year-wait for a major trophy.
Newcastle are now viewed as one of the top clubs in English football and are expected to be strong contenders for more silverware and European qualification once again - even without the presence of Alexander Isak after his record-breaking £120m move to Liverpool. They’ve spent big to establish themselves as a top club and with that in mind we’ve taken a look at their top 15 signings and rated them all out of 10 based on their performances in Black and White.
Newcastle United’s top 15 most expensive signings
15. Chris Wood: Newcastle United splashed out £25m to sign Burnley striker Wood in the second signing of the PIF era. Wood only scored five times in 39 appearances for the Magpies across all competitions but did directly weaken a rival at a time when the club were struggling at the wrong end of the division. He was sold for £15m just 12 months later at a £10m loss and has since been a revelation at Forest. Rating: 4/10
14. Malick Thiaw: Germany international Thiaw was signed from AC Milan for a figure believed to be in the region of £34.6m. He’s a player that’s been admired by Eddie Howe for a while after the club were linked with him in the previous summer, and it’ll be interesting to see how he fares in his debut campaign. Rating: N/A
13. Lewis Hall: Newcastle United spent a total of £35m to bring boyhood fan Hall to Tyneside in a move which raised some eyebrows after an initial underwhelming loan spell from Chelsea. However, he’s since established himself as an England international, helped the club achieve silverware and is viewed as one of the top left-backs in the league. Injuries are probably the only thing stopping him from being scored higher. Rating 8/10
12. Sven Botman: In his debut campaign, Botman was amongst the best performing centre backs in the Premier League after making his £35m move from Lille. The Netherlands international helped Newcastle to a top four finish in his first campaign but has since struggled with various injury setbacks, including an ACL problem. He’ll hope to return to his best this term after a full pre-season with his teammates. Rating: 7.5/10
11. Tino Livramento: Newcastle United signed the perfect long-term Kieran Trippier right-back successor in the summer of 2023 when they were able to get their hands on Livramento for an initial £32m, rising to £40m after add-ons. The 22-year-old has played 84 matches in total, won a domestic trophy and established himself as an England international. He’s also equally effective as a left-back which is an added bonus. Rating: 8.5/10
10. Harvey Barnes: Newcastle United splashed out £38m to bring Barnes to the club as a direct replacement for Allan Saint-Maximin. The former Leicester City star has a steady record of 14 goals in 67 matches after shaking off his early injury issues but hasn’t always been able to establish himself as a first team regular. He impressed in the Carabao Cup final and had a very bright end to last season. Rating: 6.5/10
9. Bruno Guimaraes: Brazil international Guimaraes has already established himself as one of the club’s most popular players of the Premier League era. The former Lyon star that was signed for £40m is club captain and statistically one of the hardest working footballers in the division in terms of distance covered. He’s been imperative in taking Newcastle to the next level and is one of the best in his position in the division. Rating: 10/10
8. Joelinton: Many eyebrows were raised when Newcastle spent £40m on Joelinton, particularly when the Brazilian, who initially held the No.9 struggled to find the net in English football. He could have easily just been written off as a flop following the Saudi takeover, but has instead established himself as an engine in the heart of the midfield due to his immense strength, aggression, tenacity and ability to control proceedings in the middle of the park. There are not many better player comeback stories in Premier League history. Rating: 9/10
7. Jacob Ramsey: Aston Villa academy graduate Ramsey arrived this summer for £40m to add further quality to an already stacked midfield. He’s started just one game so far and is currently nursing an injury. It’s too early to judge him at this stage. Rating: N/A
6. Anthony Gordon: Former Everton wonderkid Gordon arrived in January 2023 for a figure in the region of £40m. He took six months to settle but was a revelation for the Magpies in his first campaign as he won an England call-up. Gordon played a big role in helping the club reach the Carabao Cup final with a key strike in the semi-final vs Arsenal - and at his best is a player that epitomises the intensity Howe loves to see from his attackers. If he can improve on his disciplinary record, he could go on to establish himself as one of the league’s top left wingers. Rating 8/10
Newcastle United have great success rate from their top five signings
5. Yoane Wissa: Following a long drawn out transfer saga, Newcastle finally agreed to sign 19-goal Brentford striker Wissa for £55m on deadline day. It was an expensive figure for a player, aged 29, and in the final year of his contract. However, he has an excellent track record in the league and scored as many goals from open play as Alexander Isak last season. Rating: N/A
4. Sandro Tonali: Newcastle United sent out a real statement of intent when they completed the signing of AC Milan star Tonali in the summer of 2023. The Italian took time to settle and missed almost the entirety of his first season due to a betting-related suspension. However, he’s since bounced back incredibly well and has been one of the best midfielders in the division over the course of the last 12 months. Rating: 9.5/10
3. Anthony Elanga: Howe added much needed quality to the right-wing position by signing rapid Sweden international Elanga from Nottingham Forest. He’s had a slow start to his Newcastle career but it’s very much early days and much too soon to judge. Rating: N/A
2. Alexander Isak: Never has a footballer gone from hero to zero in quite as dramatic a fashion as Isak after the Swede went on strike to force a move to Liverpool this summer. However, based on the player’s quality and output, there’s no doubt he was a superb signing. Overall, Isak scored 62 times in 109 appearances for Newcastle, including the winner in a Carabao Cup final, before leaving for £125m - almost double the £63m the club paid for him. Rating: 9.5/10
1.Nick Woltemade: Newcastle United spent a club-record £69m to bring Woltemade to St. James’ Park after his heroics for Stuttgart last term. The 6ft7 striker was sensational 17 across all competitions last term, including a goal in the final for Stuttgart as they secured German Cup glory. Here at 3AddedMinutes, we think he has all the tools to be a success story on Tyneside, particularly after his debut goal against Wolves. However, at this point, it’s still too early to judge. Rating: N/A