Newcastle United's sporting director, Ross Wilson, has revealed the club had been quietly planning for Eddie Howe's exit for eight or nine months before the manager stepped down in late July, meaning the switch to Matthias Jaissle could be executed swiftly despite the surprise timing just weeks before the new season. Wilson said the process was handled discreetly and without acrimony, praising Howe's contribution, including the 2025 Carabao Cup win, while acknowledging that a 12th-placed finish and the sales of key players had prompted Howe's decision to leave.

Newcastle paid £10m to Al-Ahli to appoint Jaissle, identified through data modelling as their top choice for his high-pressing, attacking style. The summer also saw a major squad overhaul, with Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali sold for almost £170m to help meet a Uefa spending settlement, while Bruno Guimarães's £75m move to Arsenal was described by Wilson as unwanted but necessary; his replacement, Nico González, arrived from Manchester City for £52m as part of eight signings aged 24 or under. Chief executive David Hopkinson said the club aims to be consistently competing with the traditional "big six" by 2030.