Newcastle United’s sporting director Paul Mitchell is set to leave the club by mutual consent at the end of June, bringing his tenure to an abrupt end less than 12 months after his high-profile appointment.
Mitchell, who joined the Magpies in July 2024 as a replacement for Dan Ashworth, confirmed his departure in a statement thanking the club and its staff for their support during a challenging but eventful season.
“I’d like to thank everyone at Newcastle United for their support over the last year,” Mitchell said. “I’m leaving at a time that is right for me and the club, particularly with Darren Eales – someone who I have worked so closely with in my career – moving on soon. The club is in great hands on and off the pitch, and is in a fantastic position to continue building.”
Mitchell’s appointment was seen as a coup for Newcastle. A respected figure in football recruitment, he previously held key roles at Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, RB Leipzig, and AS Monaco. His close working relationship with CEO Darren Eales, who brought him to Spurs in 2014, was considered a strength for Newcastle’s long-term strategy. However, Eales is also expected to step down from his role soon due to health reasons, a factor Mitchell noted in his decision to part ways with the club.
Mitchell’s departure comes amid ongoing turbulence behind the scenes at Newcastle. His predecessor, Dan Ashworth, had also left the role abruptly, joining Manchester United in mid-2024. However, Ashworth’s stay at Old Trafford was brief, departing in December and recently rejoining the Football Association as head of elite men’s and women’s development.
During his short spell in charge at St. James’ Park, Mitchell navigated a complex landscape. Newcastle’s transfer strategy was severely constrained due to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, which forced the club to make difficult decisions in the transfer market. Notably, promising talents Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh were sold, despite the club’s ambitions to build a squad capable of challenging for silverware at both domestic and European levels.
Despite the financial hurdles, Mitchell’s time at the club also saw significant achievements. Under his tenure, Newcastle won the Carabao Cup in February 2025 — their first major domestic trophy in over 70 years — a moment that was widely celebrated by fans and seen as a turning point in the club’s modern history. That success was followed by a dramatic end to the Premier League season, as the Magpies clinched a Champions League qualification spot on the final day, securing their place in Europe’s elite competition for the 2025/26 campaign.
Mitchell’s departure marks yet another change in the club’s executive leadership during a period of ambitious transition following the 2021 Saudi-led takeover. While Newcastle have made strides on the pitch, including investing in world-class training facilities and expanding their global fanbase, off-pitch stability remains a challenge as the club continues to evolve.
No replacement has been announced yet, but Newcastle’s board is expected to begin the search for a new sporting director immediately, as preparations for a demanding season — both domestically and in Europe — are already underway.
For now, Mitchell’s exit closes a brief but impactful chapter in Newcastle’s recent history. With silverware secured and Champions League football ahead, the foundations he helped lay will be tested in the coming months as the Magpies aim to solidify their position among the Premier League’s elite.
