Official statement confirms Newcastle United transfer will happen in July next year
Newcastle United have agreed to sign the winger but he won’t officially join until 2027.
Independiente del Valle have claimed that Johan Martinez will join Newcastle United in July next year.
The Magpies released a statement earlier this week confirming the 16-year-old winger will officially join after his 18th birthday next summer.
But what it didn’t drill down on was the exact month of his arrival.
“From the Valley of Dreams, we proudly announce the transfer of Johan Martínez’s registration to @NUFC from July 2027,” Independiente del Valle wrote on X.
“Trained in the comprehensive process of #IDV, Johan has grown under a methodology that prioritises values, education, and human development, alongside high performance.
“Johan will continue his training at home, advancing step by step, until becoming a player for the English club when he turns 18. In #IDV we continue building the future: we form people, transform dreams, and project talent to the world.
Newcastle United beat off ‘serious competition’ to sign Johan Martinez
The deal for Martinez comes after Newcastle appointed Thomas Federspiel as the club’s new global talent scout in Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador in December.
And sporting director Ross Wilson has hinted at similar moves going forward.
“We’re delighted to beat off serious competition from leading clubs across Europe to bring Johan to Newcastle United,” Wilson said.
“Identifying and recruiting promising young players is a key part of how we build for the future, and our scouting and recruitment teams have worked diligently to secure Johan’s signature.
“Independiente del Valle have a strong reputation for developing young players and Johan has undoubtedly benefited from that environment. He will continue his progress there while we maintain a close connection with his development, and we look forward to welcoming him to Newcastle next year.”
Martinez hails from one of Ecuador’s top academies in Independiente del Valle, famous for producing several players who have gone on to have success in Europe, most notably midfielder Moises Caicedo.
Caicedo joined Brighton & Hove Albion from Independiente for just £4million in 2021 before being sold to Chelsea two-and-a-half years later for over £100million.
Martinez was part of the Independiente del Valle youth team who won the Ecuadorian Under-17 title in December 2025.