Matthias Jaissle begins Newcastle rebuild after £9.5m release from Al-Ahli

Newcastle United have appointed Matthias Jaissle as their new manager on a four-year contract, replacing Eddie Howe and beginning a new chapter under the 38-year-old German.

The club confirmed the appointment on their official website on Wednesday evening, only minutes after Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli announced Jaissle’s resignation.

Jaissle had already joined Newcastle’s training camp in La Manga, Spain, having arrived on Saturday after the Premier League club reached an agreement with Al-Ahli to pay £9.5m to terminate his contract.

“It is a great honour to become the head coach of Newcastle United,” Jaissle said in his first comments after the appointment was announced. “This is one of the biggest clubs in Europe, with an incredible history, identity and fanbase, and I am looking forward to experiencing that closely.”

He added: “When a club of Newcastle’s size contacts you, you realise the scale of the opportunity. The club’s ambition, its vision for the future and the project it is working on made my decision easy.”

The German said he had followed Newcastle’s progress in recent years and believed the club had a clear direction and strong leadership, providing an ideal foundation for further success.

Jaissle will take charge at a challenging point in Newcastle’s preparations. The club have agreed to sell captain Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal for £75m, with the Brazil midfielder joining Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali among the players leaving this summer.

Newcastle have also invested heavily in young talent during the transfer window. Their arrivals include Czech goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from Sporting Braga, French goalkeeper Ewan Gouwin, and outfield players Aladji Bamba, Sean Storer and Bazoumana Toure.

The incoming deals have totalled about £140m under sporting director Ross Wilson.

Jaissle outlined a philosophy based on teamwork, discipline, an aggressive pressing approach and a constant desire to improve. He also promised to give everything he could to meet the club’s ambitions and make Newcastle supporters happy.

Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson said the new manager had been the leading candidate following a detailed assessment process. Hopkinson pointed to Jaissle’s successful record and leadership qualities, saying they matched the club’s project to become one of the biggest teams in the world by 2030.

Jaissle’s first match in charge is expected to be the friendly against Valencia. Newcastle will then begin their new season at home to Liverpool on 23 August.

His appointment brings an end to Howe’s spell in charge and places Jaissle at the centre of Newcastle’s next stage, with the club reshaping its squad while pursuing its longer-term ambitions.