Newcastle United announce triple professional contract deal as six players depart

Newcastle United Secure Futures of Local Talents as Six Players Depart

 

Newcastle United have confirmed that three of their promising young talents — Joe Brayson, Luke Craggs, and Logan Watts — have signed their first professional contracts with the club. The trio, all of whom hail from the local area and grew up supporting the Magpies, have progressed steadily through the club’s youth academy and are now set to embark on the next phase of their careers as full-time professionals.

 

Their promotion to the senior ranks is seen as a testament to the hard work of the club’s academy staff and the players’ own dedication to their development over the years. Newcastle have placed a renewed emphasis on nurturing homegrown talent, and the professional deals handed to Brayson, Craggs, and Watts reflect the club’s long-term vision of integrating locally developed players into the first-team setup.

 

The announcement coincided with news of six players being released from their professional contracts. On Tuesday, Newcastle confirmed the departures of Josh Donaldson, Jay Turner-Cooke, Harry Powell, Rory Powell, James Huntley, and Ellis Stanton. All six players had spent time within the club’s youth and development squads but were unable to break into the senior team during their time on Tyneside.

 

While their exits mark the end of their journeys at St James’ Park, Newcastle wished each of them the best in their future endeavors, with many expected to seek opportunities elsewhere in the professional game.

 

As the club looks ahead to the new season, the contrast between those leaving and those stepping up highlights the constant evolution within the academy system. With Brayson, Craggs, and Watts now part of the senior setup, Newcastle fans will be eager to see if the trio can follow in the footsteps of past youth graduates who went on to become first-team regulars and club icons.