Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
Former Newcastle United star Jonjo Shelvey has been left without a club after being released by Burnley.
The 2017 promotion winning midfielder signed for the Clarets in January after a stint in Turkey with Rizespor and Eyupspor. But he has made just four appearance for Burnley and was told he would not be kept on after the Lancashire club won promotion back to the Premier League.
A statement from Burnley read: "Jeremy Sarmiento will return to Brighton & Hove Albion following his time at Burnley, whilst Nathan Redmond and Jonjo Shelvey will both depart the Clarets upon expiry of their contracts on 30th June.
"Burnley Football Club thank all the leaving players for their contributions and wish them all the very best for their future career."
It's two years since Newcastle said farewell to Shelvey after a £7m move to Nottingham Forest. Shelvey was just two appearances away from triggering an extension at Newcastle when he asked Eddie Howe to leave.
He said in 2023: "He said he couldn’t let me go at first and then I sort of pleaded with him to let me go.
"He said he would sleep on it but then he said he would only let me go if they could get one in. I said I needed to leave for a fresh start and put my points across, and the next day he pulled me, we had a little chat and he granted my wish. Eddie said he wouldn’t stand in the way of my happiness."
Shelvey is remembered fondly by many fans on Tyneside, not only after sticking with the club after relegation in 2016 but also being a pivotal part of the immediate aftermath of the takeover in 2021. Back then he was a regular in Howe's side and scored the goal that arguably began the turnaround with a free-kick away to Leeds.
"Eddie made me see football in a different way and helped me understand the game a lot more," Shelvey told Chronicle Live in an exclusive interview. "I still speak to him now and again over text and he's one of those people you can pick up the phone to at one o'clock in the morning and he will always be there to help you out. I can't speak highly enough of that man. It's just a pleasure to see him doing so well."