Newcastle United are heading back to the Champions League and here is every player they signed the last time they qualified for Europe’s top competition.
It’s been an incredible season for Newcastle United and the fans have been given yet another cause for celebration after Champions League football was officially secured on the final day.
Eddie Howe’s side didn’t help themselves as they lost 1-0 to Everton in a terrible performance but were bailed out by Manchester United, who defeated Aston Villa 2-0 to ensure their place.
It’s been a slog of a Premier League season with a host of clubs scrapping for the five Champions League places on offer but the Toon have now secured one of them ahead of Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
A summer of preparation is now in store and Newcastle will have to make a lot of big signings in the transfer window if they hope to go far in Europe in the 2025-26 campaign.
Here’s how much they spent the last time they qualified.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Who Newcastle signed when they last made the Champions League
Newcastle’s rise up the ranks following the PIF takeover took a huge leap forward in the 2022-23 season when they secured a place in the Champions League for the first time since 2002.
Here is everyone Newcastle signed that summer:
Player Signed from Cost
Sandro Tonali AC Milan £55m
Harvey Barnes Leicester City £38m
Tino Livramento Southampton £32m
Yankuba Minteh Odense BK £6.5m
Lewis Hall Chelsea Loan (Obligation to buy)
So in total, Newcastle spent £131.5m in preparation for their first Champions League campaign for two decades.
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That figure rises by a potential £35m if you include the fee to sign Lewis Hall from Chelsea permanently the following summer for £28m, with £7m in add-ons.
Yet, the spending wasn’t enough to help Newcastle much at such a high level after they were placed in the Group of Death alongside Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.
Despite an unforgettable 4-1 win at St. James’ Park over 2025 finalists PSG, Newcastle’s return to the big time wasn’t a happy one as they finished 4th in their group with just five points.
The Champions League will have a different format this time around but it shows the scale of the task at hand for Howe to take his side far.
Position Team Wins Draws Losses Goal difference Points
1 Borussia Dortmund 3 2 1 3 11
2 PSG 2 2 2 1 8
3 AC Milan 2 2 2 -3 8
4 Newcastle United 1 2 3 -1 5
How Newcastle finished in the Champions League in 2023-24
Newcastle United will have to splash just as much this time
While Newcastle have a great starting XI capable of beating anyone, as proven by defeating champions Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, Howe’s squad is lacking in quality depth beyond it.
It’s been the case for a while, with the Toon struggling to cope with the increased workload of the Champions League last time and unable to really add to their squad this past year due to PSR restrictions.
It’s only going to be tougher next season as the new-look Champions League will see Newcastle play eight games in the ‘league phase’ rather than six.
It’s clear significant spending will be required this summer if Newcastle are to compete in Europe and maintain their position in the Premier League, if not challenge for the title.
Thankfully, Newcastle will have much more room to spend in this transfer window, while all their big investments from 2023 remain pivotal members of the squad.