placeholder image
Getty Images
The Newcastle United midfielder has the chance to earn a permanent move to the Netherlands.
Travis Hernes has left Newcastle United on loan but he could be leaving permanently next summer.
Hernes was a deadline day arrival in the summer of 2023, joining from Shrewsbury Town, where he scored on his professional debut in a 2-1 EFL Trophy defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers under-21s.
The Norwegian midfielder spent the next 18 months in the Magpies’ academy before spending the second half of last season on loan in his homeland at top-flight side AaB Aalborg.
Hernes made 12 appearances in total and on his return to Newcastle this summer linked up with Eddie Howe’s first-team for pre-season. Rather than go back to the academy, Hernes will gain further senior experience.
Option for Newcastle United midfielder to leave permanently in 2026
The 19-year-old has finalised a season-long loan move to Eredivisie side FC Groningen, which includes an option to buy next summer.
Newcastle’s club statement did not mention the buy option, with the clause made public by the Dutch side.
“FC Groningen has signed a loan deal with midfielder Travis Hernes from Newcastle United,” a club statement read. “The 19-year-old Norwegian will finish the current season at Euroborg. The Pride of the North has included a purchase option in the loan agreement to permanently acquire the youth international after the season.
Travis Hernes was born on November 4, 2005, and holds both Norwegian and Jamaican citizenship. The midfielder began playing football in Norway and, after moving to England, joined Shrewsbury Town's youth academy. He made his debut for Shrewsbury Town's first team at the start of the 2022/23 season as a 16-year-old and transferred to Newcastle at the end of the 2023 summer window.
Read More
“In Northern England, Hernes primarily played for the under-21 team. During the pre-season preparations for the current season, the midfielder played several friendlies for the club's first team in the Premier League. Only last weekend did it become clear that the midfielder would be allowed to go on loan from his club.
“In the second half of last season, the Norwegian youth international was loaned to Danish side Aalborg BK. In Denmark, he made 12 appearances at the highest level in six months. The central midfielder also made several appearances for Norway's Under-20 team.
“Hernes will immediately join the first team of head coach Dick Lukkien and will play in Groningen with the number 7 on his back.”
Travis Hernes reacts to Newcastle United loan exit
Speaking to the Groningen club website, Hernes said: “As soon as I landed and realised that I'm finally going to sign, I was over the moon. Like I said, this is the place I wanted to be for a while now, so I'm really happy to be here.
“I'm just a young player looking to develop myself and I think this is 100% the right place for me to be.
“I think it's something different from what I'm used to. In England it's a different type of football, tactically, technically, everything is a lot different from English football. So I think for me to develop as a player and just learn different sides of the game, this is the right step for me.”
Continue Reading