Newcastle United Sporting Director Paul Mitchell Steps Down After Less Than a Year

Newcastle United announced that Sporting Director Paul Mitchell will leave the club at the end of June 2025. This decision comes less than a year after he took the job.

What Happened?

Newcastle United confirmed on Tuesday that Paul Mitchell will step down as sporting director after 11 months in the role. The 43-year-old joined the Magpies in July 2024 as Dan Ashworth’s replacement. He plans to leave at the end of June. In his farewell message, Mitchell thanked everyone at the club. This included manager Eddie Howe, women’s team coach Becky Langley, players, staff, owners, and fans for their support.

The Bigger Picture

Mitchell’s departure comes at an important time for Newcastle. The team has just qualified for the Champions League next season after finishing fifth in the Premier League. They also ended a 70-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup in March. Despite these successes, Mitchell’s time at St. James’ Park has been tough. He faced financial challenges early on and had to sell players like Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh at the last minute to avoid penalties.

Reports suggest there may have been tension between Mitchell and manager Eddie Howe from the start of the season. The sporting director caused a stir when he said the club’s transfer policy was “not fit for purpose” in an interview. His departure aligns with CEO Darren Eales leaving, which Mitchell mentioned as a reason for his decision to step down.

What Next for Newcastle?

With Mitchell leaving, manager Eddie Howe will temporarily handle recruitment and transfer policy. This comes as Newcastle prepares for their Champions League campaign next season. The timing is significant because the club didn’t add to their squad in the last three transfer windows. Mitchell would have had more freedom in this summer’s window.

Finding Mitchell’s replacement is now a major task for Newcastle’s Saudi-backed ownership. They aim to build a long-term project. Mitchell leaves a big gap in the club’s leadership. He had worked at Tottenham, RB Leipzig, and Monaco before his brief time in Newcastle. The next Premier League season starts in August. The club has limited time to find new leadership in the sporting director role before the 2025/26 season begins.