Newcastle United oppose divisive rule change as 'incredible' £64m transfer agreed
Transfer news: Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has reacted to the news Manchester City new signing Antoine Semenyo can play in the Carabao Cup.
Manchester City will be boosted by the availability of new £64million signing Antoine Semenyo against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday night.
Despite Semenyo representing AFC Bournemouth earlier in the competition, a rule change introduced this season will allow the winger to be available for selection against The Magpies at St James’ Park on Tuesday (8pm kick-off).
Semenyo made his debut for City, grabbing a goal and an assist in a 10-1 win over Exeter City in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
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Previously, players were tied to playing for just one club in domestic cup competitions in any given season.
It meant any player who had already represented a club in a cup competition would be deemed ‘cup-tied’ if they were to secure a transfer to another English club in the same season, and would be unable to play again in said competition.
It’s a rule that stopped Newcastle from playing both Anthony Gordon and Martin Dubravka in the 2023 Carabao Cup final after the pair had already represented Everton and Manchester United in the earlier rounds of the competition.
But Man City won’t face such a restriction despite Semenyo playing for Bournemouth in a 2-0 Carabao Cup second round defeat at home to Brentford back in August.
The previous FA rules read: “A player shall only play for one club in the competition during the same season.”
But for the start of the 2025/26 season, those rules were amended to state: “A player that has played for one Club in the Qualifying Competition and/or the Competition Proper may play for a maximum of one other Club in the Competition Proper (but may only play for a maximum of one Club in any given round of the Competition).”
In previous seasons, Semenyo would have been ineligible to feature for Man City in the Carabao Cup, but the rule change makes him available for selection.
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Eddie Howe reacts to rule change
It’s a rule change Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe admitted he wouldn’t support in the circumstances, given his side have no new signings to call upon so far.
“It was nice to find out that rule had changed after finding out they'd signed him,” Howe laughed. “Yeah, I have to say that's probably one rule change I probably wouldn't be supportive of at this current moment!”
Semenyo joins Man City after an impressive half-season at Bournemouth which saw him score 10 goals in 20 Premier League appearances.
“Antoine's had an incredible season,” Howe added. “I'm a big admirer of his, and he scored on his debut, so fair play to him. I think Man City have signed a very, very good player.”
Newcastle were previously credited with an interest in Semenyo but ended up signing Anthony Elanga instead as a younger and cheaper alternative. Elanga is in contention to make his return from injury on Tuesday night having missed Newcastle’s last five matches.