To say that the summer of 2025 was eventful for Newcastle United would be a huge understatement. The Magpies were at the epicentre of the biggest Premier League transfer story this window, as Alexander Isak expressed his desire to leave St James' Park for Liverpool.
The Swede's stance left the Geordies at a crossroads — was it better to keep an unhappy but excellent player against his will, or cash in and use those funds to help revamp the squad in multiple areas? In the end, the latter felt inevitable.
Isak moved to Anfield on transfer deadline day for £125m, as Eddie Howe's side replaced his 23 league goals last term with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa. Couple their arrivals with the signings of Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Aaron Ramsdale, and you can definitely argue that the decision to sell the Swede and reinvest that money was a smart one.
But the north-east club arguably could have done even more in the window. And one opportunity that they missed out on was cashing in on midfielder Joe Willock, whose long-term future at the club looks uncertain.
Willock Not Guaranteed Minutes
Newcastle United's Joe Willock
Pre-Season Friendly - Celtic v Newcastle United - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - July 19, 2025 Newcastle United's Joe Willock during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Willock was signed by Newcastle back in 2021 from Arsenal for £22m and has been a pretty consistent presence in the squad since then. Featuring in 64 matches during his first two full seasons at the club, his manager Howe hailed him as "excellent" in 2023 after he made his 100th Premier League appearance.
But since then, it's been far from plain sailing for the former Gunner. The midfielder featured in just nine matches during the 2023/24 term due to achilles and hamstring injuries. And while he played in 32 league matches last season, just 11 of those were starts as he clocked up a relatively small 1,086 minutes.
Check Out Willock's Premier League Record For Newcastle Below
Joe Willock at Newcastle (Premier League)
Season
2020/21
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
2025/26*
That total is only likely to diminish in the league, as Newcastle have made an effort to strengthen their depth in the engine room over the years. Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes were Howe's starting trio during the opening Premier League fixtures, while Ramsey, signed from Aston Villa this summer, came into the team for the goalless draw against Leeds United instead.
To make matters even more difficult for Willock, he was not even brought off the bench that game. Howe turned to Lewis Miley as Newcastle sought to break the deadlock, perhaps the biggest indicator that Willock's manager believes that the 26-year-old can't take his team to the next level.
It's unlikely that Willock will want to sit on the bench and come into the side as a rotation option for cup competitions, especially during what should be his prime years as a footballer. If he continues to play a bit-part role, he will be agitated, so it doesn't take a crystal ball to predict that his future likely lies away from St James'.
Newcastle Could Have Cashed In
Newcastle United's Joe Willock
Premier League - Arsenal v Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - May 18, 2025 Newcastle United's Joe Willock reacts REUTERS/David Klein
Newcastle might have wanted to keep him around for depth, but there was reportedly interest from Premier League teams during the summer. Crystal Palace considered Willock as a potential replacement for Eberechi Eze, who moved to Arsenal, while Leeds also weighed up a move for the midfielder after their return to the Premier League.
Reports suggest that a transfer would have cost in the region of £22m, matching the fee which Newcastle stumped up to sign him in 2021. His sale would not only have brought in a healthy sum for a player who is on the fringes, but would also have put the club in an even stronger financial position.
According to The Athletic, the club's accounts for 2023/24 indicated that while revenue had grown, so too had the club's costs. Wages reportedly increased by 18%, a trend which would have continued in 2024/25 after bonuses for Champions League qualification kicked in. And although Isak's departure should alleviate concerns over both PSR and UEFA's wages-to-revenue rule this season, getting rid of Willock's £80,000-per-week contract would have provided additional headroom. That space to operate will be especially useful if further signings are targeted.
While Willock's potential sale might still be on the cards when the transfer window re-opens, it's unlikely to bring in as much money as this summer. Although the club will get his wages off the books, a lack of minutes, combined with a contract expiring in June 2027, means that his transfer value is likely to plummet, making the decision not to sell him before the September transfer deadline a poor one.