Eddie Howe is set to leave his position as manager of Newcastle United with immediate effect, sources have informed BBC Sport. The decision comes after a season where the club finished 12th in the Premier League, a significant drop from their previous campaign.
Howe, 48, managed Newcastle for their final pre-season friendly, a 4-1 defeat against Bristol City on Wednesday. While Howe was aware of the club's need to sell players due to financial regulations, sources indicate he expressed surprise regarding the club's transfer activity this summer. Earlier in the year, Howe had committed to remaining at the club despite anticipated player sales, but his stance evolved over the summer period.
During his tenure, Howe oversaw substantial investment, with approximately £240 million spent on new players in the summer of 2023. However, he has faced the departure of key players this summer, including Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona. There have also been reports of Arsenal's interest in captain Bruno Guimaraes.
Eddie Howe took over as manager in November 2021, succeeding Steve Bruce. He guided Newcastle to significant achievements, including ending a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy with the 2025 Carabao Cup victory. The team also secured Champions League qualification in both the 2023 and 2025 seasons. Last season, Newcastle reached the last 16 of the Champions League but experienced a disappointing league campaign after finishing fifth in the 2024-25 season.