Eddie Howe departs as Newcastle United line up replacement from Saudi Pro League

Last Updated on 30 July 2026

Premier League management remains a brutally fickle business. Even successful, well-liked bosses rarely survive long, regardless of results.

10 Premier League clubs were going into the 2026/27 campaign with managers either debuting in the league or for a specific club. Now, it’s 11 as Eddie Howe becomes the latest Premier League manager to depart, leaving Newcastle United after nearly five years.

Matthias Jaissle, currently managing Al-Ahli, looks all but confirmed as his replacement.

Why Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United stint is over

Howe’s departure looks amicable rather than a straightforward sacking but has been a long time coming. Reports suggest he informed the board he wants a break from football entirely. However, timing raises obvious questions regardless of the official framing.

Newcastle just sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £69.3million. Sandro Tonali also left, joining Tottenham in a £100million deal. Consequently, Howe watched his squad get stripped down significantly during a single window.

Despite receiving full backing from PIF delegates recently, Howe still chose to step away. Perhaps rebuilding yet again felt exhausting after years of promises around investment. Either way, Newcastle now needs fresh leadership during another transitional summer.

What comes next for Newcastle

Matthias Jaissle brings genuine pedigree to this challenge. He impressed hugely at Red Bull Salzburg, developing talents like Benjamin Sesko and Karim Adeyemi. Currently, he manages Al-Ahli, another PIF-owned club in Saudi Arabia.

Therefore, familiarity with the ownership structure should ease his transition. However, Jaissle inherits serious problems immediately. Arsenal are chasing Bruno Guimaraes aggressively this summer. Losing him would mean Newcastle shedding three key stars in one window alone.

Meanwhile, PIF’s financial commitment looks less certain than before. Reports suggest the Saudi fund wants to sell around a quarter of its shareholding. That move aims to fund Newcastle’s new stadium, rather than signal retreat entirely.

Nevertheless, supporters might reasonably worry about spending power going forward. Ultimately, Jaissle faces an unenviable rebuild from day one. Losing Gordon, Tonali and potentially Guimaraes and Lewis Hall tests any manager’s resolve. Can he flip the script?