Eddie Howe is set to leave Newcastle United.
Daily Mail Sport understands the head coach has been contemplating his future for some time and has come to an agreement with the club to end his four-and-a-half-year tenure.
Howe took time at the end of last season to consider the best way forward for him and the club, but decided to carry on.
However, the 48-year-old has now informed the hierarchy of his belief that the time is right to part ways. There has been no falling out and the agreement has been reached amicably.
Newcastle are now in talks with candidates to replace Howe, including Matthias Jaissle of Al Ahli.
Howe had a transformative impact at St James’ Park, with the Englishman guiding Newcastle to Champions League qualification twice, while he also won the club’s first major trophy since 1955 when winning the Carabao Cup in March 2025.
Eddie Howe is set to leave his role as Newcastle United manager in bombshell news
Howe led Newcastle to their first major trophy in 70 years in 2025 and also took them to the Champions League on two occasions
In total, he won 112 of his 231 games in charge and is understood to be keen on a break from football.
Howe’s exit continues what has been a turbulent summer at St James’ Park, with Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali having already departed the club. There is also significant uncertainty over the future of Bruno Guimaraes as Arsenal circle.
Howe’s exit comes despite him taking charge of Newcastle’s pre-season friendly at Bristol City on Wednesday night, a game they lost 4-1.
Speaking after the match, Howe insisted the scoreline was ‘a difficult one to take’ but added the clash was a ‘good test’ for his side and said they would be ‘better for the game’.
Howe’s arrival in November 2021 saw him replace Steve Bruce with Newcastle in the relegation zone, shortly after a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s PIF had just taken over the club.
The former Burnley and Bournemouth boss led the Magpies to safety before guiding them into the Champions League the following campaign.
He repeated that feat in 2024-25, the same season they beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final to bring silverware back to Tyneside.
However, 2025-26 become increasingly difficult as it progressed, with Newcastle struggling for consistency as they finished 12th in the Premier League.
The Magpies were also knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage following an 8-3 aggregate defeat by Barcelona and won just five of their final 17 league games, putting pressure on Howe.
He stayed in his role though following talks with the club’s hierarchy, which included a 25-strong delegation from the PIF in an end-of-season summit.
His exit continues a turbulent summer at St James’ Park after the exits of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali
Howe’s potential replacement Jaissle is only 38, yet he has impressed with his work at Red Bull Salzburg, FC Liefering – who are their reserve team – and Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.
In the Middle East he has won back-to-back Asian Champions League titles, where he has been praised for his brand of high-intensity, attacking football.
Al-Ahli are also owned by Saudi Arabia’s PIF and have former Premier League stars Ivan Toney and Edouard Mendy in their squad.
Newcastle will hope for a swift appointment given their top flight campaign kicks off in just over three weeks when they host Liverpool at St James’ Park on August 23.
