It is hard to find a club and a fanbase in the Premier League that have suffered more than Newcastle have in the past year.
Five years after their purchase by the Saudi investment fund, with expectations of competing consistently at the top end of the table, their big dreams have been met by a completely different reality.
Last summer, they struggled to sign any of the high-profile players they scouted, having their targets snatched away from them by the bigger sides in the league. Then arguably their best player went on strike and demanded an immediate move to Liverpool.
Alexander Isak got his wish.
This summer, the club were determined not to invite a repeat of last year’s atrocious saga. They sold any player who did not want to stay. Anthony Gordon was followed out the door by Sandro Tonali. Then manager Eddie Howe left, fed up with the structure of the club around him.
And then their captain, Bruno Guimaraes, told the club he wanted to leave. It was the one exit of a player that the club could not countenance, but Guimaraes’ heart was set on a move to Arsenal, and he joined the Gunners for £75m.
In addition to all that is the club’s 12th place finish last season, rather far from where they want to be. How do they get back up?
Dan Burn has been appointed as club captain to replace Guimaraes. New head coach Matthias Jaissle made the appointment last week, his second at the club.
Jaissle was previously in charge of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli before being called up this summer to replace Howe. His first competitive game in charge will be in the league next weekend against Liverpool.
Dan Burn’s first game as club captain 👏©️ pic.twitter.com/ZXoxihpYFq
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) August 16, 2026
Burn’s appointment as captain gives Jaissle an experienced figure to lead the dressing room in what will be a year of major change. Howe spent five years at Newcastle and shaped the squad very much in his image. He will not be easily replaced.
“Dan is a natural leader and a perfect fit for the role of Newcastle United captain,” Jaissle said. “He puts the interests of the team ahead of his own every time he steps onto the pitch and always gives maximum commitment in everything he does.”
Jaissle also added that the 34-year-old defender will not be only recognised leader of the squad. He plans to form a leadership group. One player who is likely to make that group is Guimaraes and Tonali’s former midfield partner Joelinton, although the Brazilian is currently injured.
In terms of transfers, Newcastle have largely signed young players. Bazouamana Toure and Aladji Bamba are 20 years of age, as is new goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen. Sean Steur, the midfielder signed from Ajax, is 18. The oldest of the newly arrived contingent is goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, who is 24 years old.
A St. James’ Park debut for Lukáš this afternoon! 🇨🇿 pic.twitter.com/IUF3CIp925
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) August 15, 2026
Jaissle has said he wants more experience in his squad, particularly in midfield, but attempts to recruit Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Marseille have stalled.
No one is under any illusions that it won’t be a tough season. More than half of the squad have been at the club for less than a year. This is a brand-new team under a brand-new manager, seeking to climb back up the table from a 12th-place finish without any established names.
Burn believes Newcastle can cope, even if they don’t hit the ground running.
“Very ready,” he said when asked whether the team was prepared for the start of the season. “We’re not going to peak against Liverpool. It’s going to take time for the new manager to embed the things he wants to do, but I’m confident.
“We want to be pushing for Europe again. I feel like we need to embrace this change.”
Burn is one of a handful of established figures remaining from Howe’s team and has a personal connection with the club, having joined from Brighton in January 2022 as a boyhood Newcastle supporter.
“It’s been an incredible journey since I joined the club four-and-a-half years ago,” Burn said. “We’ve achieved some amazing things together and enjoyed some unforgettable moments.
“I believe there’s still more to come and I’m relishing the responsibility of pushing everybody every single day to make sure that is the case.”
