'Delighted' - Newcastle United beat Man Utd to signing of highly-rated defender spotted at St James' Park
Newcastle United have completed the signing of Josh Kenchington after interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Young defender Josh Kenchington has confirmed his arrival at Newcastle United following his departure from Barnsley.
The 15-year-old England youth international is the latest addition to Newcastle’s academy set-up and the first signing of Ross Wilson’s tenure as sporting director.
Newcastle had been working on a deal since the summer, prior to Wilson’s arrival, but have now completed the transfer which Sky Sports have claimed is worth in excess of £350,000.
Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton had also held an interest in the defender before Newcastle swooped in.
Kenchington arrives as a highly-rated young player who has been compared to Barnsley academy graduate John Stones, who has gone on to play for Everton, Manchester City and England as one of the country’s leading centre-backs.
Barnsley farewell message issued ahead of Newcastle United transfer
Kenchington took to Instagram to bid farewell to Barnsley, posting images of himself at the club along with the caption: “Where do i start? Five years at this great academy, filled with both ups and downs, a rollacoaster of emotions.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at the club, including academy staff, players, and every coach along the way, thank you all.
“I will never forget the memories made at my boyhood club and never forget how much I progressed. But it is time now for the next chapter of my life, we move...❤️.”
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NUFC new signing pictured at St James’ Park
Days after issuing his farewell message, Kenchington took to Instagram again to post an image of himself at St James’ Park holding up a Newcastle United shirt with his name on the back.
The caption read: “New beginnings delighted to be here🖤🤍.”
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A pathway to the first team at Newcastle United
The Magpies have been able to attract young talent to the club in recent seasons after demonstrating a clear pathway between the academy and first-team set-up.
Eddie Howe has regularly called-up Under-21s players to train with Newcastle’s first-team squad and even handed match experience to some standout talents.
19-year-old academy graduate Lewis Miley already has over 50 first-team appearances under his belt.
Howe has also named players such as Leo Shahar and Sean Neave on the bench in first-team matches after the 18-year-old duo trained with the first team.
Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brighton, 16-year-old midfielder Sam Alabi was spotted sat next to Howe and new sporting director Wilson during a first-team training session at Darsley Park.
“Absolutely, the pathway is there for all the players in the various age groups beneath the first-team,” Howe explained last season.