Official statement confirms first Newcastle United January transfer after club chief's honest admission

Newcastle United have already confirmed a very early January transfer.

Newcastle United have confirmed that Antonio Cordero has had his loan move to Belgian side KVC Westerlo cut short. Cordero didn’t make a single league start for Westerlo and featured in just eight matches in total.

He had been an unused substitute on seven occasions and didn’t even feature in the squad as they lost to Gent on Saturday. Having arrived on Tyneside to much fanfare in the summer, it has been a disappointing few months for the Spanish teenager as he looks to continue his development in senior football.

Newcastle beat off interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona to land Cordero’s signature back in June, with the teenager moving to Tyneside on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Malaga. Signing Cordero was viewed as a coup for the Magpies and one that, if all went to plan, they could nurture into a first-team player after a successful loan spell away from the club.

Whilst his development has not gone to plan in Belgium, could a return to Spain’s second division be what he needs to reignite his career? Well, that is an option that Newcastle United have explored.

Newcastle United confirm Antonio Cordero transfer

On Wednesday 31 December on the eve of the opening of the January transfer window, Newcastle United confirmed that Cordero will indeed move back to Spain to join Cadiz.

A statement from Newcastle United read: ‘Antonio Cordero has returned from a loan spell at KVC Westerlo and will join Cádiz CF on loan for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.

‘The 19-year-old made eight appearances in all competitions in Belgium, with Westerlo currently sitting tenth in the 16-team Belgian Pro League.

‘Antonio returns to Cádiz after spending the 2016/17 season with the club's youth set-up, and he will now represent the first team in a league he knows well.

‘The winger made 39 appearances for Málaga in the Spanish Segunda División last season before sealing a switch to the Magpies.’

Cadiz currently sit sixth in the La Liga 2 table with eyes on sealing promotion to the top-flight. During his final season at Malaga, one that convinced the Magpies to make their move for him in the summer, Cordero scored six goals and assisted a further seven as he became a regular starter, despite beginning the season as a 17-year-old with limited first-team experience.

Club chief confirms Antonio Cordero interest

Speaking recently, Manuel Vizcaino, Cadiz’s club president, confirmed that his club were interested in signing Cordero, stating: “I can’t confirm that a deal is close because he belongs to another club. He’s a player who’s on the market. We’re interested in him, but deals can’t be announced until they’re finalised.

“Your obligation is to try to anticipate the confirmation. Ours is to be prudent, because there are many parties involved, and we’re going to wait and see if he can ultimately join Cádiz.

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“We are interested. If it doesn’t happen, we’ll move on and look for other options.”

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