Key Newcastle United signing from Arsenal confirmed in statement

Dan Ashworth has recruited a number of scouts since his appointment as sporting director last season. Ashworth, overhauling the club’s youth system and scouting structure, has hired Eddie Black as professional lead academy scout.

Black, a boyhood United fan, had been Northern England and Scotland emerging talent scout at Arsenal.

“I’d like to share that I’m starting my new position of Professional Lead Academy Scout at Newcastle United Football Club,” tweeted Black. “I would like to thank everyone at Arsenal, it was a pleasure working at such a great club. Excited to be working for the club I support and being part of the project.”

Newcastle have previously appointed Paul McLaren as head of national youth scouting and Paul Midgley as head of youth recruitment. Both had previously been at Manchester United.

Eddie Howe – who has guided the club to third in the Premier League – spoke about the club’s scouting restructure last month.

"Your football club's success depends on recruitment,” said United’s head coach.

“It's that important. Who you bring into your football club really dictates what happens afterwards. I'm not involved in the structure of how we set up those departments. That's other people's jobs, but I'll certainly welcome any changes that are positive for what we do."

It has also been reported that Delroy Ebanks will join from West Ham United, where he had been head of youth recruitment. Ebanks will become the club’s lead scout for the South of England. Long-serving Paul Baker will fulfil that role for the North.