Newcastle United's bizarre £354m most-expensive XI of all-time - including ex-Chelsea and Everton stars

Newcastle United have embarked on a major overhaul of their squad ever since a Saudi-led ownership group complete a takeover at St. James’ Park in October 2021.

Within months, the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Tripper had arrived at Newcastle to help Eddie Howe’s side preserve their Premier League status before Sven Botman and Nick Pope followed as the Magpies boss prepared for his first full season with the club.

Progressing into the Champions League was believed to be the precursor for another recruitment drive - but United have been held back by their battle against the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations.

Nevertheless, further new signings are planned for the January transfer window with Newcastle believed to be prioritising a centre-back, winger and a forward as they look to move on from what has felt like an underwhelming first half to the current season. With the winter trading period set to open, we take a look at a Magpies side made up of the most expensive signings in the club’s history.

GK: Odysseas Vlachodimos

The Greece international was a somewhat surprise signing during the summer of 2024 as he added to what already felt like a healthy band of goalkeepers within Howe’s squad. Chances for Vlachodimos have been few and far-between and there have even been claims he could depart St James Park in the new year. Reported transfer fee: £18-20m.

RB: Tino Livramento

Livramento a product of Chelsea’s academy and was viewed as a genuine prospect during his time at Stamford Bridge. However, a move to Southampton kickstarted his Premier League career and he caught the eye of Newcastle during his time with the Saints, despite a serious injury hampering his progress. Livramento now seems to be the Magpies first-choice right-back and made his senior England debut during the November international break. Reported transfer fee: £32m.

LB: Lewis Hall

Another product of the Chelsea academy, Hall joined Newcastle on a season-long loan during the summer of 2023 and actually found game-time hard to come by during his first 12 months at St James Park. However, after completing a £28m permanent move to Newcastle, the talented left-back has now established himself in Eddie Howe’s side and his progress was rewarded with his first senior England caps in recent months. Reported transfer fee: £28m.

CB: Sven Botman

A long-term target and a key target for Newcastle’s Saudi-led ownership ground following their takeover at St. James’ Park in October 2021, Botman was finally secured in a £32m deal during the following summer and helped the Magpies qualify for the first time in two decades during his first season on Tyneside. His second season as a Magpie was prematurely ended by an ACL injury but he will have a big role to play in the new year after returning to fitness. Reported transfer fee: £32m.

CB: Dan Burn

A boyhood Newcastle supporter, Burn thought his chance to represent his club had passed as he played for the likes of Fulham and Brighton in the Premier League. However, the Magpies made a reported £13m bid for the big defender in January 2022 and he helped the club preserve their Premier League status before the end of the season before playing a leading role in helping the Magpies qualify for the Champions League during his first full season at St. James’ Park.

Still a trusted player for Howe and has recently extended his current deal by a further 12 months. It would be no surprise to see another centre-back take Burn’s place in this most expensive side in the next two transfer windows. Reported transfer fee: £13m.

CM: Sandro Tonali

It could be argued Tonali was the first surprise signing under Newcastle’s Saudi-led owners. Although persuading Kieran Trippier to return to the Premier League caused a stir, raiding AC Milan for an established member of their squad caught many by surprise. Tonali’s first season at Newcastle was a non-event as his campaign was halted by a lengthy ban for breaching gambling regulations in Italy. He is now back in contention and will hope to become a regular part of Eddie Howe’s starting eleven over the coming months. Reported transfer fee: £55m.

CM: Joelinton

Had this list been put together four years ago, Joelinton would be part of the strike pairing and we would be bemoaning his inability to find the net on a regular basis. However, an unlikely switch from shot-shy striker to powerhouse midfielder has transformed the former Hoffenheim star into a key figure within Howe’s squad and his surprise progress has been rewarded with international recognition with Brazil. Reported transfer fee: £40m.

RW: Miguel Almiron

It seems remarkable Michael Owen remained Newcastle’s all-time record transfer for almost 14 years as the club’s former owner seemed to put the block on investment and ambition. Yet the £20m deal to sign Paraguayan international Almiron from Atlanta United in February 2019 finally saw the record broken.

The winger has struggled to find consistency during his time on Tyneside - although his performances and goal return during the 2021/22 season did help the Magpies qualify for the Champions league for the first time in two decades. However, it would not be a shock to see Almiron depart St. James’ Park over the next two transfer windows. Reported transfer fee: £20m.

LW: Anthony Gordon

After a period where Gordon’s move to Newcastle seems to swing from off to on and back again on a daily basis, the Everton forward finally completed a £40m deal to join the Magpies in January 2023. After struggling to make an impression during his first six months on Tyneside, Gordon enjoyed an overwhelmingly positive first full season with the club and continues to be a key player for Howe.The forward is another player that has progressed into the senior England squad over the last 12 months. Reported transfer fee: £40m.

ST: Alexander Isak

The Sweden international remains Newcastle’s most expensive signing of all time after he completed a reported £63m move to Tyneside in August 2022. After marking his debut with a stunning strike against Liverpool, Isak has gone on to become one of the Premier League’s most feared strikers and has plundered his way to an impressive strike rate of around a goal in every two games for the Magpies. There has been widespread reports of interest from elsewhere - but for now, Isak remains a big part of United’s plans for the future. Reported transfer fee: £63m.

ST: Chris Wood

Wood has become one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League in the last 12 months - but his progress did not come in the black and white of Newcastle. The New Zealand international struggled to find the net on a regular basis during his time at St. James’ Park after joining the Magpies in a reported £25m deal in January 2022.

Wood had scored just five goals in 35 appearances before joining Nottingham Forest on loan 12 months later before making a permanent move to the City Ground in the summer of 2023. His time as a permanent member of the Forest squad has seen Wood become one of the Premier League’s top goalscorers during the last calendar year. Reported transfer fee: £25m.