BREAKING; Unbelievable player to miss out on Newcastle United return as official announcement is made
Newcastle United Set to Welcome Familiar Faces in the Premier League Next Season
Newcastle United will be joined in the Premier League next season by Leeds United and Burnley, both of whom secured promotion from the Championship.
The Magpies could also be set for a high-stakes reunion with either Sunderland or Sheffield United, depending on the outcome of the Championship playoff final at Wembley.
Should Sunderland triumph, the Tyne-Wear derby will return to the Premier League for the first time since 2016 — a fixture many fans have been eagerly waiting to see again.
Interestingly, both teams that achieved automatic promotion did so with former Newcastle United players in their squads.
Familiar Names in Promotion Squads
Leeds United’s successful title charge saw Karl Darlow feature in goal during the final stretch of the season under manager Daniel Farke.
Meanwhile, Burnley’s promotion-winning campaign included midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, though his contribution was limited.
Shelvey Set to Leave Burnley
Despite being part of Burnley’s promotion squad, Shelvey will not be returning to the Premier League with the Clarets.
The club has confirmed in its retained list that the 33-year-old will leave when his short-term contract expires on June 30.
Shelvey joined Burnley in January under Scott Parker but struggled to make an impact, making just four appearances — two of which came as starts in the FA Cup.
He also made two substitute appearances in the Championship but was left out of the squad for the club’s final 12 games of the season.
Now, the former Newcastle midfielder is set to become a free agent and will be seeking the next chapter in his career.
A Decline Since Leaving Newcastle
Since leaving Newcastle United in 2023, Shelvey’s career has been turbulent.
His time at Nottingham Forest ended on a sour note after a fallout with manager Steve Cooper. He then had short spells in Turkey with Caykur Rizespor and Eyüpspor before joining Burnley.
Despite recent struggles, Shelvey’s former Newcastle teammate Dwight Gayle remains full of praise for the midfielder.
In a recent interview, Gayle described him as “unbelievable” and strongly defended his professionalism.
“I think he’s misunderstood,” Gayle said. “People think he’s not serious or professional, but that’s far from the truth.
He works hard, has a gym at home, and always did extra training. He was an unbelievable player.”
As Shelvey enters free agency, it remains to be seen where the next step of his career will take him — but his time at Newcastle still commands respect from those who knew him best.
