Newcastle’s 10 most expensive transfers of all time

7 Feb 2022 12:24 GMT |
Updated: 21 Sept 2026 14:33 BST |
6 min read

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Newcastle United have the richest owners in world football following their Saudi Arabian takeover during the 2021-22 season, although their ability to spend huge sums of money has been blocked by financial regulations.

Despite this, the Magpies have still been extremely active in the transfer market during recent seasons and their investment helped build the squad that ended a 70-year trophy drought with Carabao Cup glory in 2025.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through the 10 most expensive Newcastle signings of all time.

10. Anthony Gordon – €45.6m (from Everton, 2023)

Anthony Gordon was a long-term target for Eddie Howe and Newcastle, but they had multiple bids turned down by Everton in 2022 before finally agreeing a deal in January 2023.

The forward had previously been chased by Chelsea, but the Blues opted for the other options after Thomas Tuchel left the club, and Gordon soon became a fan favourite at St James’ Park.

Gordon scored 39 goals in 152 games for the club, playing a crucial role in their successful spell under Eddie Howe, before leaving to join Barcelona for €80m in 2026.

9. Bazoumana Toure – €50m (from Hoffenheim, 2026)

Bazoumana Toure joined Newcastle for €50m as their replacement for Gordon following the Englishman’s move to Barcelona.

The Ivorian arrived having scored five goals and provided nine assists in 30 Bundesliga games during the 2025-26 season, and Newcastle won the race for his signature following strong interest from several top European clubs, including Liverpool.

Toure scored on his debut for the club during a 3-2 win over West Brom in the Carabao Cup.

8. Bruno Guimaraes – €50.1m (from Lyon, 2022)

Newcastle’s €50.1m 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 as they battled relegation.

The Brazilian rejected the chance to include a relegation release clause in his contract and endeared himself to fans by leading Newcastle to survival in his first season, the Champions League in his second and the Carabao Cup in 2025.

However, Guimaraes opted to leave the club to join Arsenal in 2026, departing with 195 appearances under his belt.

7. Nico Gonzalez – €56m (from Man City, 2026)

Manchester City signed Nico Gonzalez from Porto as a back-up option to Rodri on Transfer Deadline Day in February 2025, but he departed the club less than 18 months later.

Gonzalez started just 26 Premier League matches during his short stint at City, however Newcastle had seen enough to spend a whopping €56m to secure his signature amid their pursuit of midfield reinforcements in 2026.

City were desperate to sanction a sale in order to raise funds for Enzo Fernandez and the move suited all parties.

6. Yoane Wissa – €57.7m (from Brentford, 2025)

After weeks of transfer negotiations and the player exiling himself at Brentford, Yoane Wissa finally joined Newcastle for €57.7m on Deadline Day.

The Magpies spent all summer haggling over a fee with Brentford and the deal was only completed 30 seconds before the deadline as Wissa forgot to sign one of the necessary documents.

He arrived having scored 19 goals in his final Premier League season for Brentford, but he did not make his debut for the club until December 2025 after suffering a long-term knee injury while away on international duty with DR Congo.

5. Sandro Tonali- €60.8m (from Milan, 2023)

Sandro Tonali became the most expensive Italian player in football history when he left his beloved AC Milan for Newcastle in the summer of 2023 for €60.8m.

Tonali had emerged as one of Europe’s most exciting young central midfielders during his time at San Siro, playing a pivotal role in Milan winning their first Scudetto in 11 years in 2021-22.

He missed the vast majority of his debut season at Newcastle due to a gambling ban, but Tonali bounced back in his second campaign and after establishing himself as a standout Premier League midfielder, he was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for €108m in 2026.

4. Matias Fernandez-Pardo – €60m (from Lille, 2026)

Newcastle completed the surprise signing of Matias Fernandez-Pardo for €60m on Transfer Deadline Day in 2026.

The Belgian scored eight goals in 29 Ligue 1 appearance during his final season for Lille and Newcastle made him their fourth-most expensive signing in history following three cameo appearances at the World Cup.

In the process, Fernandez-Pardo became Lille’s fifth-biggest sale of all time.

3. Anthony Elanga – €61.4m (from Nottingham Forest, 2025)

Anthony Elanga was the only top target Newcastle managed to get their hands on in 2025, with the club acquiring his signature after finalising a €61.4m deal with Nottingham Forest.

The Sweden winger registered 17 goal contributions during his final Premier League season at the City Ground and Newcastle fought off strong competition to sign him amid their pursuit of a long-term Jacob Murphy replacement.

However, Elanga struggled during his first season at Newcastle, failing to score a single league goal.

2. Nick Woltemade – €75m (from Stuttgart, 2025)

After missing out on Matheus Cunha, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko, Newcastle’s desperate scramble to sign a replacement for Alexander Isak culminated in them splashing out €75m on relatively unproven Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade.

The exact amount spent on the German was the subject of intense debate at the time of the move, with reports in his home country claiming that the fee could rise to as high as €90m, while others asserted that it was in the region of €85m. It is now accepted that Newcastle spent an up-front fee of €75m.

After an excellent start, Woltemade lost his place in the starting XI and he was sent on loan to Juventus during the 2026 summer window.

1. Alexander Isak – €77.5m (from Real Sociedad, 2022)

Newcastle confirmed the signing of striker Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad in 2022, completing the deal for an initial €70m, which eventually rose to €77.5.

Isak left La Liga with 44 goals in 132 Real Sociedad games, and after an injury-hit first season at St James’ Park, he soon exploded into life.

He netted 25 goals in all competitions during his second season at the club and he continued that brilliant form in 2024-25, eventually earning himself a Premier League-record €145m move to Liverpool after a lengthy transfer saga.

The 10 most expensive Newcastle signings of all time

Carlo Garganese is a highly-respected football writer, broadcaster and editor with more than 15 years of experience working at the highest level for major global brands. Garganese spent 12 years at Goal.com, where he played a significant role in building and developing the website into one of the largest football media organisations in the world.

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