Newcastle’s 10 most expensive transfers of all time

Updated: 7 Sep 2023 13:45 CDT
5 min read

Newcastle's Saudi takeover during the 2021-22 season immediately propelled them into the richest club in world football following years of stagnation under previous owner Mike Ashley.

The new regime have splashed the cash since their arrival to rejuvenate a side that were previously among the lowest spenders in the league as the Magpies look to re-establish themselves as a top Premier League side.

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Newcastle were previously one of England’s most entertaining clubs and a side with a rich history of fascinating and remarkable transfers.

FootballTransfers has created a list of the top 10 most expensive transfers in the club’s history.

10. Chris Wood - £25m (from Burnley, 2022)

It may not have been the Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland that the Newcastle fans were hoping for, but Newcastle completed the acquisition of Chris Wood from Burnley in January of 2022.

Wood helped Newcastle avoid relegation in his first half-season at the club but only scored four goals in 35 games before joining Nottingham Forest on loan in January 2023, a move which became permanent in the summer of 2023 for £15m.

9. Joe Willock - £26m (from Arsenal, 2021)

After constant struggles to nail down a starting role at Arsenal, Joe Willock moved to Newcastle on loan in January 2020 and was nothing short of a revelation. In just 14 Premier League games, the young midfielder scored eight goals and played a pivotal role in the Magpies avoiding relegation.

As such, when the player pushed for a move away from Arsenal in the following summer transfer window, Newcastle were quick to pounce and signed the then 22-year-old for a substantial sum.

While the run of goals slowed down for Willock upon his permanent move, he has become a more complete midfielder under Howe and remains a crucial part of the Magpies' team.

8. Sven Botman - £35m (from Lille, 2022)

© ProShots - Sven Botman has been a giant at the back for Newcastle

Lille's star defender Sven Botman headed to the Premier League after rejecting Milan to complete a transfer to St James' Park in the summer of 2022.

Botman is rated as one of the most talented young centre-backs in Europe and impressed greatly in Ligue 1 after moving from Ajax in 2020.

The Dutchman has already proved why Newcastle splashed the cash on him as the Magpies boasted a formidable defensive record in 2022-23.

=7. Harvey Barnes - £38m (from Leicester, 2023)

Newcastle capitalised on Leicester City's shock relegation in 2023 by signing exciting winger Harvey Barnes for a fee of around £38m.

The 25-year-old arrived off the back of a 13-goal season for the Foxes to bolster the Magpies' frontline ahead of their long-awaited return to the Champions League.

=5. Tino Livramento - £40m (from Southampton, 2023)

Former Chelsea academy prospect Tino Livramento was snapped up in the summer of 2023 for £40m despite not having played for a year due to an ACL injury.

The signing was a gamble given that the young English full-back had only enjoyed one solid season of Premier League football, but Livramento certainly has the potential to live up to his hefty price tag.

=5. Joelinton - £40m (from Hoffenheim, 2019)

Joelinton arrived at St James' Park as the club's new number nine despite never playing as a lone striker during his time in Germany with Hoffenheim, however Newcastle were keen to splash a staggering £40m on the Brazilian.

He struggled in his first campaigns under Steve Bruce and was considered one of the biggest flops in Premier League history after scoring just six times in his first 69 games.

However, the arrival of Eddie Howe saw Joelinton moved into midfield where he has been one of Newcastle's most consistent and important players, even attracting the attention of the Brazilian national team and becoming a fan favourite in a dramatic turnaround of fortunes.

4. Bruno Guimaraes - £42m (from Lyon, 2022)

© ProShots - Bruno Guimaraes is a fan favourite for the Magpies

Newcastle's £42m signing of Bruno Guimaraes was the first real big-money arrival under the Saudi regime and he quickly proved just why the club were desperate to bring him in in the midst of a relegation battle.

The Brazilian rejected the chance of a relegation release clause and endeared fans by insisting he wanted to become a legend at the club, a feat he may well achieve after leading Newcastle to survival in his first season.

Guimaraes has been one of the best-performing midfielders in the world since his arrival at Newcastle.

3. Anthony Gordon – £45m (from Everton, 2023)

Anthony Gordon was a long term target for Eddie Howe and Newcastle and they had multiple bids turned down for the youngster in 2022 before making their move for the Everton man in January 2023.

The £45m fee could be considered an overspend due to Gordon's inconsistent performances for Everton as they struggled near the bottom of the table but Newcastle were still convinced to splash the cash on the forward.

Gordon's workrate, speed and versatility were among the reasons he was brought to the club and the 21-year-old will now look to prove just why he Newcastle spent so much

2. Sandro Tonali- £60m (from Milan, 2023)

Sandro Tonali became the most expensive Italian in football history when he left his beloved AC Milan for Newcastle in the summer of 2023 for an initial £60m plus add-ons and a 10 per cent sell-on clause.

Tonali had emerged as one of Europe's most exciting young central midfielders in recent years, playing a pivotal role in Milan winning their first Scudetto in 11 years in 2021-22.

Often compared to Andrea Pirlo, in truth Tonali is a mixture of Pirlo and Rino Gattuso. In addition to his technical and creative qualities, he also is hard-working and an intense presser.