In amongst the flurry of activity on the first day of pre-season training came the expected news that Newcastle’s No. 9, Callum Wilson, was leaving the club after five seasons.
Wilson finishes his Newcastle career as the third top Premier League goal scorer in the club’s history with 47 goals from 113 appearances. He scored twice in cup competitions taking his overall total to 49 goals in 130 appearances. This is a more than respectable record for a player who only averaged 26 games per season due to the persistent injuries that sadly held him back from becoming the player he could have been.
Wilson’s injuries were well documented and varied. His body ultimately let him down, but the strength of character he showed to come back from two cruciate ligament tears in 2015 and 2017 when playing for Bournemouth should never be underestimated.
Anybody who listened to Wilson on the High-Performance podcast in May 2025 will not be surprised that he had the mental fortitude to come back from those bad injuries. He had a challenging childhood growing up in Coventry and had to handle significant adversity. It’s a credit to his levels of self-belief and work ethic that he has played football at the highest level for so long, including his 9 caps (two goals) for England, and his injuries shouldn’t be allowed to define him.
Newcastle parted with £20m to sign Wilson from Bournemouth in the post-Covid summer of 2020 during one of the rare and fleeting periods of enthusiasm that enabled Mike Ashley to loosen the purse strings.
It was a move that Steve Bruce pushed for, and he was repaid with eight goals in just twelve league appearances before Christmas, including a debut strike at West Ham. Along with Allan Saint-Maximin, Wilson was a rare cause for celebration and joy in those dreary days under Steve Bruce. However, only four goals followed for the rest of 2020/21 (braces in away wins at Everton and Leicester), as the team struggled for consistency and a hamstring issue sidelined Wilson for almost half the remaining fixtures.
Wilson took the No. 9 shirt from a clearly burdened Joelinton for the 2021/22 season and again started with an opening day goal against West Ham (this time in a 4-2 home defeat). By the time he recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in September the takeover had happened, and the Newcastle United world was a different place.
Of the eight goals Wilson scored in 2021/22 (he missed four months from January to May with a calf injury), his strike against Burnley was arguably his most important goal for Newcastle. It was Eddie Howe’s first win as manager and was critically important in the relegation battle. Wilson was at his very best that night and put in a classic all round centre-forward performance which brought to mind Newcastle number 9s of old.
2022/23 was Wilson’s best season in the black and white. The six goals he scored before the mid-season World Cup break in November propelled him into the England squad for the tournament, and he appeared in 31 league games that season. He saved his best form for April, when he and Alexander Isak competed for the starting spot and spurred each other on to hit previously unseen heights.
Wilson scored eight times in seven appearances (only two starts) in April then grabbed another three goals in May to fire Newcastle into the Champions League. His 89th minute strike at the Gallowgate to put Newcastle 3-1 up against Brighton and all but confirm Champions League qualification will live long in the memory, and it is this period that Wilson will be remembered most fondly for. He finished the season with 18 league goals.
There is an argument (mostly with the benefit of hindsight) that the summer of 2023 would have been an opportune time to cash in on Wilson while his stock was high.
This, however, ignores the context that Newcastle were about to embark on a gruelling campaign on four fronts and it still wasn’t clear just how good Alexander Isak was going to be. Wilson scored seven goals in nine league appearances before the end of October before succumbing to calf and chest injuries for the majority of the rest of the season. He ended the season with ten goals from twenty-six appearances in all competitions.
Last season was undoubtedly a disappointment for Wilson, albeit he rounded off his time at the Magpies by playing the last 15 minutes of the Carabao Cup Final win. His only goal came in the FA Cup at Birmingham City, and when he was fully fit from February onwards, he couldn’t usurp Isak in the starting XI.
One thing Callum Wilson will never lack is self-belief, even if some of his bravado may be a coping strategy for some of the hardships he has experienced in his life. The Newcastle United number 9 has to have certain personal characteristics as well as knowing where the back of the net is.
Wilson had the charisma and confidence as well as the ability to do that shirt proud, and he will always be respected and remembered fondly on Tyneside for his achievements.
Callum Wilson. Goalscorer.
Thank you for the memories, CW9 🫡 pic.twitter.com/f19Qgu1Jlw
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) July 7, 2025
Good article! Fitting for a great player! 👍
I see now that we have not accepted Leeds bid for Longstaff. Yesterday it was reported that we had accepted a £12m bid. These reporters know nothing at all.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
If Wilson could have stayed fitter he would have been in the conversation about the best PL CFs of his time imo.
When fit he was head and shoulders above the likes of Toney and Solanke – and would have been pushing Kane hard for that England spot imo.
Not blaming Wilson in any way, it’s a shame really but he still done a brilliant job for us.
If he was 30 I’d be saying extend his contract, but at 33 I think it’s time to give the likes of Osula or a younger forward we may bring in a go.
They say goals keep you in the PL and Wilson’s certainly did for us so we should be forever grateful to him.
I watched his episode on High Performance recently and he has clearly has some issues through his life too. Hope he works his way through those & wish him well on whatever he goes on to do 🖤🤍🖤🤍
Sharpy17(Quote)
Nothing but love and thanks going his way from me.
Good luck Callum for the future.
kimtoon(Quote)
Cheap replacement. Mitrovic on loan for a year.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Mitrovic on £21m per year and tax free at Al-halal .
I do not think he will be a cheap relacement .
sidekick(Quote)
Ouch, wasn’t expecting those wages. Oh well.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Elanga finally confirmed! 😂😂
Gilly Toon(Quote)
when is this carry on joke over M/C trouble going to get sorted,money keeping this out of public plus the PL is the biggest joke
icedog(Quote)
Here’s my theory on why we are looking at Ekitike again.
We can’t break our wage structure to pay Isak the contract he’d want so he won’t be signing a new deal – but that’s ok just now coz we have time on our side.
Sign Ekitike now and we will have over spend this year – BUT sell Isak for big money early next summer (before PSR window closes) and we have balanced our books – already got Ekitike in and will have money for a striker to replace outgoing Isak.
We keep him this year 🤷🏼♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy this had also occurred to me too the only fly in the ointment would be that other clubs would know this and knowing we have to sell to be on the right side of PSR they would play hard ball on our valuation and walk away leaving us panicking and ultimately letting him go for less than our valuation .
kimtoon(Quote)
It’s a joke mate, I think the PL are terrified of Cities legals tbh
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I thought that too, but ultimately I think there will be clubs desperate not to miss out on signing one of the best strikers in the world at prime age.
The alternative is that someone like RM put the bite on him and offer to sign him on a free when his contract expires – which just means we get to keep him for 3 years rather than the 1 – I could live with that.
But as you say, that would leave us at risk of PSR – in which case we sell Gordon or someone else instead of Isak – not ideal, but we would still have Isak and Ekitike 🤷🏼♂️. Worse case it blows up in our face we breach and get a points deduction.
It’s risky – but what we are currently doing is certainly not giving us the best chance of competing.
We have to be realistic that Isak will leave coz at best he’d get offered around £200k a week (based on Bruno currently best paid on £160k). We aren’t going to pay much more than that as other players will be wanting more and our wage structure collapses.
Realistically though, Isak could demand over £300k from ‘bigger’ clubs – so for that reason I don’t see him staying.
Hopefully the club are ahead of the game 🤞🏼🤞🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice – it’s pathetic isn’t it!!. It was supposed to be imminent in March!!.
Then they said wait til the end of season, then they said after the CWC.
Whatever the PL decide, you know City will contest it and kick the can as far down the road as possible – it’ll be 2030 before anything comes of this I reckon … so what’s the point?!?!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, yeah good points to be fair.
kimtoon(Quote)
Well today’s result just shows how ridiculous football has got.
Chelsea now get to call themselves champions of the world for the next 4 years having taken part in a competition thanks to winning the champions league years ago. A campaign that they were later punished by UEFA for overspending – an offence disclosed by Boehly when they took over – Chelsea were fined, the PL done nothing (surprise).
Fast forward to 2025 and Chelsea win the Conference League – only to again be fined by UEFA for overspending by £200m (what chance do the other teams in that competition have??).
They have been allowed to keep that trophy though & enter into the Club World Cup, whereby before a ball is kicked they go and spend another £150m – the Jackson gets a red card so they spend another £60m on Pedro – who despite it being semi final stages, can go straight into the squad and effectively win them the trophy and title of champions of the world.
What an absolute waste of time having any financial rules at all.
Let these clubs form their super league I say – I wouldn’t miss Chelsea, City, MU, Arsenal or Spurs one bit!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Agree, they have now got £100m for winning that cup. Even after they pay the £40m fine for their dodgy financial dealings they are left with some nice pocket money.
What’s the point in everyone playing by the rules when this %hit goes on.
kimtoon(Quote)
Also no sign of Amnesty international or our southern press giving them a hard time for being in a cup comp funded by Saudi . Apparently that’s only allowed when it’s us.
kimtoon(Quote)
UEFA and the PL are basically corrupt to the core. 🤷🏻♂️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
FIFA too mate
kimtoon(Quote)
Two posts
Assuming Ekitiki is real and plays with Isak. Then, given the money needed for Scalvini and Trafford, can we really afford that or will somebody have to be sacrificed. Remembering that, assuming we showed a profit over the last two years, we may only need a sale before the deadline next year to pass PSR regs. Elliott / Mintah. Or perhaps Anthony or Barnes goes to fund it. Suddenly, it appears we have money.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Second post
Assuming Ekitiki and Isak play up top together, does that mean we keep the same system but with Ekitiki in LF position, unlikely, dropping Gordon and Barnes?
4-4-2 with one of our three midfielders dropped?
3-3-4 with a back three ? Where are the wingbacks?
1950s style, 3-2-5 ?
Eddie obviously has an idea, I’m intrigued.
PremAndUp(Quote)
I am really excited by the idea of Ekitike coming in!!
Can’t quite believe we are slashing that sort of cash to be honest 🤯.
I’ve watched this boy a lot having been a player we fancied a few seasons back – and the boy is a real talent!!.
We will have some forward options if we can pull it off – but I’m with Prem – how do we balance the books?!?!! – worry about that later 🤷🏼♂️😂
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think they have either walked away from the Trafford deal and used that money towards Ekitike or they plan to sell Gordon at a higher price or a few smaller fees with the likes of Barnes, Willock, Longstaff and Target.
The talk is that we flew out to Germany to speak to the club re fee and his reps have flown to Austria to discuss terms – that wouldn’t happen if we weren’t close on a fee you’d think?! 🤷🏼♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Got to admit it’s not what I was expecting, still think it won’t happen. Thought Liverpool and Mancs were after him ? Better not be selling Isak.
kimtoon(Quote)
Apparently Frankfurt flexible over payment and we can pay in installments
kimtoon(Quote)
Sounds great! And even if we do lose Isak, I hope not, but if we do, for a huge fee, then we have a very capable striker. I’d hope though, that we can still keep both of them. I’m sure Eddie will know how to keep both happy.
As you said Sharpy, there wouldn’t have been so much movement of personnel if it wasn’t close.
I can see Willock, Longstaff and Targett all leaving. A goalie or two also. Perhaps Barnes, although I’d like to keep him.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Id even be ok with Gordon going if it’s for the right price. 🤷🏻♂️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly, he wouldn’t even need to go til the end of the season
PremAndUp(Quote)
If we do get Ekitike, we would have an awesome attack that could rotate for all four competitions next season
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Pool in for Isak and if we refuse they will go for Ekitike apparently.
lol, give me strength.
kimtoon(Quote)
Leeds sign Sean for £12m
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – nowt but paper talk that imo.
Frankfurt reject our bid and then Lpool all of a sudden ready to buy him 🙄. Either media writing stories or someone looking to drive our bid up closer to the €100m they are after.
Ekitike clearly wants the move as his reps have flown to Austria so this is Frankfurt trying to ensure the biggest fee possible.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It’s just funny watching the Pool fans and scouse loving journos twist mate.
kimtoon(Quote)
As for Craig Hope, his latest titbit about Isak being peed off cause Mandy and Mehdred promised him a new bumper pay rise and Mitchel went back on it !
Total hog wash, that Hope is such a s*it stirrer, club needs to ban the ******.
Rant over
kimtoon(Quote)
Thank you Sean and very best wishes for your future at Leeds.
kimtoon(Quote)
I have a feeling we will not get Ekitike. Liverpool will offer a big fee and massive salary.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I fully expect Ekitiki to arrive. The deal has been so close. He knows all about our long-term interest. Why would he give up on a club that clearly wants him for a club that turns up at the last minute.
PremAndUp(Quote)
If all Lpool are prepared to offer is £120m then no chance – but £120m plus a Harvey Elliott or Curtis Jones with us selling Longstaff might me acceptable.
Isak will not be with us long term so if we get big money now plus a top player in return then it may be the right business decision sadly.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Depends upon how fast we grow. Our ceiling is higher than any other English club, as Citeh has shown money counts. currently wage limit is about £150kpw soon £200 then more. Looking at the team being put together this window we will be in the hunt for serious prizes. It’s our job to grow fast enough that the opposition doesn’t look like a better route to silverware.
PremAndUp(Quote)
ho ho,told to be on standby for the week end
icedog(Quote)
I’ve been thinking. Not sure that that’s an accurate description but hey.
A new GK is likely to a starter with minimal prep.
A new CB is going to be slowly bedded in Eddie style while they learn the EPL and the position as needed to fit in. Bought now, probably not a starter until January unless circumstances dictate.
Therefore if Scalvini is completed on the last day of the transfer window no probs, but Trafford needs a week or so before the start of the season.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Interesting mate.
kimtoon(Quote)
🤞🤞🤞 let’s hope it’s Ekitike
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Think. L/pool will beat us on this one the bloody pigs,haven’t got a mind of their own German club let’s this deal out to the public hoping for something like this,getting to hate L/pool
Icedog(Quote)
I’ll ring my mate tonight if I get him to see if his shift is still on
Icedog(Quote)
Anyone know the site that provides cheap replica toon shirts? I think it was a US site.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Ice
That medical will be for Park Seung-soo.
kimtoon(Quote)
you could be right mate,he never knows who it is,the daft thing is hes a not a football fan hes a rugby fan
icedog(Quote)
So as I assumed, it looks like Ekitike will go to Liverpool and we’ve pulled out. 🤷🏻♂️. At least the bin dippers will stop going after Isak
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Sesko anyone ?😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Appears to be Wissa which would scupper the deal for Mbeumo.
However, Sesko or Simons, or any one of several others.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Cannot see it will be Wissa he’s 29 in September not Howes age group
Icedog(Quote)
Only has one year on contract though so could be a goer if price right.
kimtoon(Quote)
Wissa wants Spurs apparently, London pull again
kimtoon(Quote)
KIM he’s now saying Forrest,sometimes there is a lot of press ****
Icedog(Quote)
Get in ladies, that was very very tense
Bad luck Sweden
kimtoon(Quote)
Ice it’s silly season mate.
The England lasses are into the semi’s so all good
kimtoon(Quote)
That was the worst set of penalties I’ve ever seen. Shocking from both sides. But well done to the lasses.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Well done the lasses 👏🏼👏🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
Elanga is obviously a brilliant addition to the team, but I’m getting seriously annoyed by the club now.
On the player recruitment yes but more on the fact they have yet to replace Darren Eales and Paul Mitchell – recruitment that’s let’s be honest shouldn’t take as long as signing a player!!.
Eales let us know he’d be stepping down at the end of the season MONTHS ago – so his replacement should have been sorted and ready to go.
As for Mitchell – that’s been a disaster really hasn’t it?! – they should have decided months ago that he’d be replaced this summer too.
The fact we have got these key members of the backroom staff in place is making player recruitment all the more difficult – and now the players are back for pre season is probably a distraction Howe doesn’t need!!.
Why on earth does it take us SO long to get things done man????
Sharpy17(Quote)
RIP big Wyn i loved watching him never seen a guy jump as high as he could,god bless
icedog(Quote)
Very sad news
kimtoon(Quote)
You know I’m bloody sick of all this transfer rubbish,we are going for this one that one,deal on deal off,this is the worst window I’ve ever known,I’ve given up looking now
Icedog(Quote)
Now it looks like City will come in for Trafford. 🤷🏻♂️. We pi.ss about long enough we will sign nobody else.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – to be fair I think City have first dibs on him as part of the contract – they can buy back or have a huge sell on clause so Burnley are actually better off selling him back.
That said, we knew this and should have moved to a different keeper by now – unless they are planning on sticking with Pope next season and spending the Trafford money elsewhere.
Annoying coz Kelleher went to Brentford for only £15m – he’d have been a great addition imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
£71m for Mbeumo 🤯 fair play to Brentford – they are robbing MU blind there!!.
I think MU have had to go that high to get Brentford to agree a favourable transfer deal – ie spread the cost coz they can’t afford to shell out bigger payments – but they are paying well over the odds at £71m like.
My thinking now is if they are getting that much for him they have no reason to sell Wissa now and will either hold on to him or demand mad money to let him go too – which doesn’t help us at all.
Sharpy17(Quote)
A bit of a left field name and not one I’d be overly chuffed with but don’t be surprised if Richarlison gets liked with us this summer – especially if Frank goes and gets Wissa or another forward.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Anyone planning to watch the Celtic game today? The club offered all 7 preseason games for £30. I’ll be watching as I thought £30 wasn’t too bad. However I will also finally get to see a live match later as I got tickets for the Espanyol match on the 8th Aug. Not seen them live since the takeover, in fact it’s about 8 years since I’ve been able to see them live at SJP
Gilly Toon(Quote)
And yes, I knew City had the buy back, but we could’ve just offered that and had Trafford at the beginning of the window. 🤷🏻♂️
Our recruitment team seem to be very poor.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Pretty underwhelmed by our transfer business so far, save for Elanga what have we actually done ? Seem to just go for unattainable targets or targets that jump at the sniff of a legacy club.
I think we need to concentrate on getting the best youngsters we can and play the long game with development of them. We are always going to struggle going up against legacy clubs with known name players. Imagine if we were trying to get Isak now he’s a known name, we’d have no chance.
kimtoon(Quote)
And there in a nutshell is why we need another goalie 😡😡😡😡🥰
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Oh dear
kimtoon(Quote)
Celtic seem intent on trying to injure our players 😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)