Newcastle United are poised to reveal that Matthias Jaissle will take over the reins as head coach on Saturday, following the official confirmation of Eddie Howe's exit. Sky Sports News has disclosed that the Magpies have reached an agreement to pay a compensation fee of roughly £9.5 million (about €11 million) to Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli in order to secure Jaissle's services. The German tactician, who previously guided Red Bull Salzburg to multiple domestic titles and European campaigns, has signed a four‑year deal that will keep him at St James' Park until at least 2028. The plan is for the 38‑year‑old manager to join the squad at their pre‑season training camp in La Manga, Spain, on Saturday.
There, he will meet the players for the first time, assess the squad, and begin to implement his footballing philosophy. Jaissle’s inaugural match in charge will be a friendly against Valencia at the Mestalla, scheduled for the following Saturday, giving him an early opportunity to test his ideas against a strong Spanish side. Jaissle’s appointment arrives just days after Newcastle formally announced Howe’s departure on Friday, a move that had been hinted at by Sky Sports the previous day.
The club delayed the public statement about Howe in order to finalize the terms of the Jaissle deal, ensuring a smooth transition at the managerial level. Eddie Howe, 48, used his tenure at Newcastle to break a 70‑year wait for major domestic silverware, lifting the Carabao Cup in 2025 and steering the club to two consecutive Champions League qualifications.
In a heartfelt statement, Howe explained his decision to step down after nearly five years of intense dedication. He wrote, "After a period of personal reflection, I have decided that now is the right time for me to step away from my role as head coach of Newcastle United.
After nearly five years of giving my life, heart and soul into the club with unrelenting energy, I feel that it is in the best interests of both myself and the club to step away, recharge and take a break." Howe continued, emphasizing the difficulty of the decision but affirming its necessity: "Although it's been incredibly difficult to make this decision, I know in my heart that it's the right one. I have always put the best interests of Newcastle before my own in every single decision I have made whilst I've been here and this one is no different. It has been the privilege of my lifetime to have been the manager of Newcastle United. It is difficult to put into words what this club, the city and its supporters mean, and will always mean, to me and my family." The 547‑word farewell reflected on the highs and lows of his spell in the north‑east, noting that the memories forged would be cherished for the rest of his life.
Club chief executive David Hopkinson echoed the sentiment, thanking Howe and his staff for their extraordinary contributions and wishing them all the best. "Eddie and his staff leave with the deep gratitude and respect of everyone at Newcastle United, and with a lasting place in the club's history," Hopkinson said. "While we are naturally disappointed to see Eddie leave, we remain immensely thankful for everything he has done for the club.
On behalf of our owners, board, players, staff and supporters, I would like to extend sincere thanks to Eddie for his outstanding service and leadership, and wish him and his family every success and happiness for the future." Following Howe’s departure, the coaching team that will exit St James' Park includes assistants Jason Tindall, Graeme Jones, Stephen Purches and Simon Weatherstone, as well as head of performance Dan Hodges. Their exit marks the end of an era and underscores the scale of change the club is undergoing.
The news also sparked tributes from the squad. Captain Bruno Guimarães, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal, posted an Instagram tribute calling Howe "the king of this club" and thanking him for making Guimarães a better player and person. "King of this club!!
Thanks for everything you've done for us. I loved enjoying our time together. Thanks for making me a better player and person!
No words I can say will really say how much I enjoyed being your player. Wish you all the very best in your future, gaffer," he wrote.
Off the pitch, Newcastle are also busy with transfer business. The club has reached an agreement in principle with Portuguese side Braga for the acquisition of Czech goalkeeper Lukáš Horníček. Newcastle intend to trigger his £25.7 million (€30 million) release clause, making him the fifth signing of the summer and pushing the club's total spending to around £140 million. Horníček has been given permission to travel for a medical as the two clubs finalize the financial details.
Jaissle arrives at a pivotal moment for Newcastle. The German’s reputation for high‑pressing, attacking football aligns with the club’s ambition to compete at the highest level in both domestic and European competitions.
His experience at Salzburg, where he cultivated a pipeline of young talent and achieved regular UEFA Champions League group‑stage appearances, suggests he could continue the development of Newcastle’s promising academy graduates while integrating new signings. Fans will be watching closely as Jaissle implements his tactical vision during the pre‑season friendlies, particularly the clash with Valencia, which will serve as an early barometer of how his ideas translate on the pitch. The upcoming 2026/27 Premier League fixtures will test his ability to manage a squad that has grown in depth and quality under Howe, and to maintain the momentum built over the past two seasons.
In summary, Newcastle United are set for a significant managerial change, bidding farewell to a beloved figure in Eddie Howe and welcoming Matthias Jaissle, a coach with a proven track record in Europe. The transition is accompanied by ongoing transfer activity, including the prospective signing of Lukáš Horníček, and a continued focus on building a squad capable of challenging for titles. The coming weeks will reveal how smoothly the handover proceeds and whether Jaissle can sustain and enhance the progress made by his predecessor.