Newcastle United duo ‘in talks’ over January transfer exit after summer move collapse & loan recall
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Newcastle United transfer news: Two Magpies players have been linked with loan moves to the EFL during the January transfer window.
Newcastle United’s Joe White and Harrison Ashby could be on their way out of the club this month.
White recently had a loan spell at Leyton Orient cut short by the Magpies after he struggled for game time whilst at Brisbane Road. White made just six appearances under Richie Wellens whilst on-loan at the League One side and was named in a matchday squad just once since August.
Ashby, meanwhile, has featured for Newcastle United Under-21’s this season after seeing a loan move away from the club in summer collapse at the eleventh-hour. It had been reported that Stoke City were interested in signing the former West Ham man, but Ashby remained a Newcastle United player as the deadline passed.
Ashby is yet to make a competitive senior appearance for the Magpies since moving to St James’ Park from the Hammers in 2023. On his arrival to the club, Ashby was presented in-front of 52,000 fans alongside Anthony Gordon ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg with Southampton - a tie the Magpies would go on to win and book their place in the final against Manchester United.
Both White and Ashby have been on the fringes of the Newcastle United first-team during their respective times at St James’ Park, without really threatening to break into Eddie Howe’s plans. Although White does have four Premier League appearances to his name, those came back in 2024 during an almost unprecedented injury crisis at the club and doesn’t appear to have a clear route into the first-team squad.
Ashby, meanwhile, has plenty of competition at right-back and the emergence of Lewis Miley as a back-up to both Kieran Trippier and Tino Livramento in that position has severely reduced the likelihood that he will make his Premier League debut for the Magpies.
Newcastle United duo linked with double EFL transfer
According to the Mail’s Craig Hope, both Ashby and White are ‘in talks’ over a potential move to League One outfit Bradford City. The Bantams are going well in the third-tier following promotion from League Two last season and currently sit third in the table.
Newcastle United discovered first-hand the quality that Bradford City possess as they put in a resilient display at St James’ Park in the Carabao Cup Third Round earlier this season before eventually succumbing to a 4-1 defeat thanks to braces from Joelinton and William Osula.
Loan moves to Valley Parade are most likely for Ashby and White who will hope to use any temporary move away from Tyneside to rebuild their careers. Whilst White was unable to have the impact during his loan to Leyton Orient that he would have liked, he has previously impressed whilst away at MK Dons and Crewe Alexandra in the EFL.
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Ashby, meanwhile, has had spells on-loan in the Championship in recent years. His first taste of Championship action came in south Wales when he joined Swansea City for the 2023/24 campaign.
He made 16 appearances for the Swans that campaign before spending the 2024/25 season on-loan at QPR. Ashby would play 31 times for QPR in all competitions before returning to his parent club.