Ross Wilson makes first Newcastle United transfer decision - more to follow
Newcastle United have already confirmed their first piece of business this January transfer window - with more expected to follow.
Newcastle United confirmed in an official statement that Antonio Cordero would be joining Spanish second-tier side Cádiz CF on loan for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
The 19-year-old winger joined Newcastle on a free transfer in the summer with the club seeing off interest from the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid to land the young Spaniard’s signature.
The Magpies loaned Cordero out to Westerlo in Belgium for the 2025/26 season but have opted to exersise the January break clause in the deal to cut the move short. This comes after Cordero failed to make a single start and was limited to just eight substitute appearances for Westerlo during the first half of the campaign.
Cordero previously caught the eye in the Spanish second-tier with Malaga last season, where he was a regular starter and contributed with six goals and seven assists.
Now the hope is that he will rediscover his form upon his return to Spain at a club he previously spent time at as an academy player.
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NUFC confirm Antonio Cordero transfer
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.
Cordero’s loan switch-up comes following a review of Newcastle’s loan players this season by new sporting director Ross Wilson.
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NUFC loan watch
Cordero isn’t the only Newcastle player to have experienced a difficult loan spell during the first half of the 2025/26 season.
20-year-old midfielder Travis Hernes is yet to feature for Groningen after joining the Dutch club at the end of the summer transfer window.
Groningen has an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season but Hernes has struggled with his fitness so far, with his only outings during his loan spell coming for the Under-21s side.
Trevan Sanusi has been struggling with injury during his loan spell at Ligue 1 side Lorient but his spell showed signs of promise when he grabbed a goal and an assist on his debut as a substitute in the Coupe de France last month.
Like Cordero, Newcastle have the option to cut the loan deals short and explore fresh opportunities in the second half of the season.
Back in England, midfielderJoe White joined Leyton Orient on loan for the season but has not started a League One game for the club. White has not featured in a first-team match for Orient since August and is out of contract at the end of the season.
Newcastle’s senior loan players, Matt Targett and Odysseas Vlachodimos have been enjoying positive spells at Middlesbrough and Sevilla respectively. Targett has recently been hit with an injury and a potential loan recall to Newcastle has been suggested due to the club’s injury crisis.
But Targett is expected to remain on Teesside for the remainder of the season with his contract at Newcastle up in the summer. Vlachodimos’ future at Newcastle is also uncertain but the Greek goalkeeper has spoken of his desire to return to the club and compete to be the starting goalkeeper despite not making a single start last season.