Newcastle have gone from Premier League relegation fodder to European challengers and Carabao Cup finalists in less than 18 months under new ownership. Around £250million has been invested in the playing squad since the takeover and The Magpies currently sit fifth in the Premier League table.
Eddie Howe’s side have recently lost the Carabao Cup final 2-0 to Manchester United. Despite not being able to end the club’s 54 year trophy drought, it was a first major final at Wembley Stadium in 24 years.
Mike Ashley sold Newcastle United to PIF, PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media for £305million. And the club has been transformed since.
Here are 31 key moments since the takeover...
17. June 6 2022: Dan Ashworth officially joins Newcastle
The appointment of Dan Ashworth as the club’s sporting director had been made since the start of the year but a notice period prevented him from officially joining the club from Brighton & Hove Albion. An agreement was finally reached with The Seagulls following the end of the 2021-22 campaign and Ashworth was able to join just in time for the start of the summer transfer window. With the 51-year-old at the helm, Newcastle were given a clear structure and direction behind the scenes while also taking pressure off head coach Eddie Howe. And what followed was a positive summer transfer window and some strong recruitment in the academy. Photo: Michael Regan
18. June 28 2022: Training ground upgrade plans approved
Newcastle’s training ground is in dire need of an upgrade after years of neglect. And in June, significant plans were approved to make single-storey side and rear extensions to the east side of the Benton training complex, as well as a dining room extension and landscaping works. The works have taken shape, but it’s an important step while the club are planning to upgrade to a new state of the art facility in the future. Photo: Public Access
19. June 28 2022: ‘Saudi’ away kit is confirmed
The confirmation of Newcastle’s white and green away kit was subject to much criticism externally given it’s resemblance to Saudi Arabia’s national team kit. If it were any other team, no one would have batted an eyelid, but Newcastle’s clear links to the Gulf state made it hard to ignore. The move was controversial, but most Newcastle fans didn’t seem to mind. | Getty Images
20. July 5 2022: Ticket frenzy
The demand for tickets was such at Newcastle that over 30,000 online users virtually queued for 1,000 spare season tickets earlier in the summer. The frenzy continued when tickets for the pre-season friendly matches against Atalanta and Athletic Bilbao went on sale on July 5. Thousands queued once again and both matches were near sell-outs, something you very rarely see in pre-season home matches. | AFP via Getty Images