Breaking News: Newcastle United January transfer set to be announced – contract agreed until 2025

Newcastle United is set to announce its first departure of January, with reports from Spain indicating that Javier Manquillo will be unveiled as a Celta Vigo player on Friday. The Newcastle full-back was seen in Vigo on Thursday night, ready to undergo a medical examination. According to Spanish newspaper Atlantico, Manquillo has completed the necessary formalities and signed a contract until 2025.

Manquillo has not played for Newcastle this season due to a groin issue, finding himself behind Kieran Trippier, Tino Livramento, Emil Krafth, Dan Burn, and Lewis Hall in the full-back pecking order. Celta Vigo is expected to acquire Manquillo without paying a transfer fee, as his contract is set to expire in the summer.

The 29-year-old is reuniting with Rafa Benitez, who signed him as the United manager in 2017 from Atletico Madrid, following loan spells at Liverpool, Marseille, and Sunderland. Manquillo has made 110 appearances for Newcastle during his tenure.

Newcastle’s head coach, Eddie Howe, aims to strengthen the squad in the remaining weeks of the January transfer window. However, the club is constrained by the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Manquillo’s departure is expected to ease the wage bill, as the club is nearing the allowable limit for losses over a three-year period.

Eddie Howe acknowledged the financial challenges last week, stating, “In an ideal world, given the freedom to act, we would have brought players in already. But we’re not in that situation – as Darren Eales alluded to on Thursday – Financial Fair Play is a problem for us, and we’re having to navigate around that. That’s the position we’re in. When does it become a problem? It’s already one, but we’re trying to manage through it.”