General view inside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Fulham FC at St James' Park on February 01, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)placeholder image
General view inside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Fulham FC at St James' Park on February 01, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There has been movement in Newcastle United’s academy in recent days.
As per Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, under-15s midfielder Ethan Fullen is set to depart in favour of a switch to Man City.
Fullen was part of the Magpies’ academy side that travelled to Japan last year as part of the J-League International Series and scored in a 7-3 defeat to a representative side. Romano claims Fullen is viewed as a “huge talent”.
He wrote on X: “Manchester City are closing in on one more deal for the Academy: Ethan Fullen set to join from Newcastle U15. Seen as huge talent, Fullen joins #MCFC with details being sorted.”
Fabrizio Romano breaks Newcastle United academy transfer ‘exclusive’
Romano has also reported that Newcastle have beaten several Premier League clubs to the signing Rangers academy striker Alfie Hutchison.
A double raid of the Scottish Premiership giants could also see prospect Oliver Goodbrand join the Magpies, although no official confirmation has been made. Hutchison only spent one season in Glasgow having joined from Hearts last summer.
Scotland is viewed as a key battleground for Newcastle’s scouting set-up given the club’s position as English football’s most northern club. Under current regulations, United will be required to pay compensation for both players should they arrive.
Newcastle United academy strategy
Signing Hutchison is considered a coup for Newcastle’s academy as the set-up continues to build under Saudi-backed ownership. Since the takeover in October 2021, youth investment has been prioritised as the club aims to combat Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) pressures.
Developing players for Eddie Howe’s first team is cost-effective and was a strategy previously neglected by Mike Ashley. Even if youngsters fail to make the cut, they can be sold and provide pure profit to the PSR balance sheet.
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This method has been used by Manchester City and Chelsea to helo bankroll big-money signings in recent years. Newcastle are now looking to replicate that plan, with Yankuba Minteh the first example of flipping a prospect for a profit.
Minteh joined from Odense Boldklub for £7m in 2023 before a successful season-long loan spell at Feyenoord led to Brighton buying him for £33m.
Newcastle United agree to sign Vakhtang Salia
Georgian forward Vakhtang Salia will officially join Newcastle from Dinamo Tbilisi when he turns 18 in August. The agreement has been in place since October last year.
Newcastle’s sporting director Paul Mitchell said at the time: "We're delighted to get ahead of a number of other top clubs to sign Vakhtang.
"Scouting and recruiting emerging talent is an essential part of building a sustainable future, particularly within the current PSR framework, so the market is fiercely competitive.
"We continue to scout extensively, both domestically and overseas, with a view to securing players who can come through our talent pathway and, ideally, become part of the first team in future. We look forward to working with Vakhtang and wish him every success during his remaining time with Dinamo Tbilisi."
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