Newcastle United Confirm Ramsdale Return To Southampton And Schar Signs New One-Year Contract

Newcastle United have decided against turning Aaron Ramsdale's loan into a permanent move, with the goalkeeper set to rejoin Southampton. The decision follows a season in which Ramsdale provided competition in goal but finished outside the starting line-up. Newcastle United also failed to secure European qualification, adding context to a series of squad changes.

The club confirmed that three other senior goalkeepers and defenders will depart at the end of their contracts. John Ruddy and Max Thompson leave as free agents, while full-back Matt Targett exits after three years on the books. Earlier announcements had already revealed that Emil Krafth and Kieran Trippier would move on.

Ramsdale initially arrived at St James' Park in August on a season-long loan from Southampton. The move followed Southampton's drop into the Championship, and Newcastle United saw Ramsdale as cover and competition for Nick Pope. Ramsdale featured 23 times in all competitions but lost the starting shirt before the campaign finished.

Newcastle United held an option to buy Ramsdale permanently at the end of the season. That clause will now expire unused, with the goalkeeper heading back to Southampton instead. The choice comes after Newcastle United missed out on European football, which appears to have shaped their planning around transfer fees and wages.

The goalkeeping situation links with Ramsdale's international prospects, which have also stalled. Ramsdale was not selected for England's latest World Cup squad. Gareth Southgate chose Dean Henderson and James Trafford as back-up options, with Jordan Pickford remaining first choice. That omission followed a year of mixed minutes for Ramsdale at club level with Newcastle United.

While several players prepare to leave, Fabian Schar has committed to Newcastle United for another season. The defender has signed a new one-year deal to cover the 2026-27 campaign, replacing a contract that was due to expire next month. Schar therefore extends a Newcastle United stay that began in July 2018.

Schar has built a significant record during that period, making 251 appearances across competitions for Newcastle United. The centre-back helped the club lift the EFL Cup in 2025. Schar also played a key part in Newcastle United qualifying for the Champions League in both 2022-23 and 2024-25.

Schar outlined the reasons for staying when speaking to the club's website. "I'm really pleased to be staying at the club. I feel like I've achieved a lot in my eight years here but I believe there is still much more to come," Schar told the club's website. "I'm proud to call Newcastle home. Everybody knows how happy I am, both in this city and with this club, so I'm very glad to be continuing that for another year."

Newcastle United also confirmed details of Targett's time at the club. The full-back spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Middlesbrough. Targett still made 47 appearances for Newcastle United between 2022 and 2025 before his release. Trippier, whose departure was announced earlier, is expected to complete a move to Wolves later this week.

The combined decisions leave Newcastle United reshaping both the defence and goalkeeping groups before 2026-27. Ramsdale heads back to Southampton, several experienced players depart, and Schar extends a long spell on Tyneside. The club now enters the next campaign with a refreshed squad, EFL Cup success and Champions League experience still part of its recent record.