Newcastle reach full agreement with Al Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle to succeed Eddie Howe on 2030 deal

Newcastle United have reached a complete agreement with Al Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle to take over at St James’ Park as successor to Eddie Howe, according to German media reports.

Florian Plettenberg, a reporter for Sky Sport Germany, has reported that the deal for the German coach is “fully done”, with all personal terms between Jaissle and Newcastle said to be agreed “100%”.

The 38-year-old is expected to sign a contract running until 2030 in the coming days, with Newcastle having decided to trigger the release clause in his Al Ahli contract and formally inform the Saudi Pro League club of their decision.

Jaissle, who has been in charge of Al Ahli, was described as highly enthusiastic about the opportunity to coach Newcastle from the outset of talks, according to Plettenberg’s report.

Howe chooses to step away

News of the Jaissle agreement follows a report earlier on Thursday from The Athletic that Eddie Howe has decided to leave his role after five years in charge of the Magpies.

The 48-year-old Englishman, who had previously expressed a desire to continue following the end of last season, is said to have informed the Newcastle hierarchy that he wants to step away from football for a period and take a break.

The report described Howe’s departure as an amicable decision, with the club and manager parting on good terms.

Newcastle had already put a succession plan in place to manage his exit, according to the same report, which paved the way for the swift move for Jaissle.

Formalities to follow

While Newcastle have not yet issued an official statement, the club’s choice to activate Jaissle’s release clause and notify Al Ahli marks a decisive step towards completing the appointment.

Jaissle’s anticipated deal through to 2030 would represent a long-term commitment to the former defender, who has built his coaching reputation in recent years before moving to the Saudi Pro League.

No details have yet emerged on the precise timeline for Howe’s formal departure or Jaissle’s official unveiling, but the expectation from the German report is that the contract signing will be finalised within days.

Background context

Howe took charge of Newcastle five years ago and oversaw a significant period in the club’s recent history, but has now opted to take time away from the game despite initially stating his intention to carry on after the conclusion of last season.

Jaissle, meanwhile, remains under contract with Al Ahli until Newcastle complete the administrative steps required to confirm his arrival in the Premier League.

FIFA and Turkish reaction pieces referenced in the original coverage – relating respectively to Breel Embolo’s red card being described as a “correction of justice” welcomed by IFAB, and concerns in Turkey that Mohamed Salah could become a burden on Besiktas with fans unlikely to show leniency – are separate to the Newcastle development and do not impact the agreement between Newcastle, Al Ahli and Jaissle.