Newcastle United have confirmed that Eddie Howe has stepped down as the club’s head coach with immediate effect, ending his nearly five-year spell at St James’ Park.

The decision follows discussions between Howe and the club’s hierarchy, with reports indicating that the 48-year-old had been reassessing his future in recent weeks.

Howe leaves after a challenging 2025–26 season in which Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League, losing 17 of their 38 league matches. His final game in charge was Wednesday’s 4-1 pre-season defeat to Bristol City.

According to reports, Howe had become increasingly frustrated by the club’s transfer activities during the summer, despite understanding the need to balance finances through player sales.

His concerns reportedly deepened following the departure of striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool. Newcastle also lost midfielder Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur and winger Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, while captain Bruno Guimarães continues to attract interest from Arsenal.

Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson had said in March that the club was not considering a managerial change, but Howe’s position is understood to have shifted during the transfer window.

Howe was appointed Newcastle manager in November 2021, replacing Steve Bruce, and oversaw a remarkable transformation at the club.

He guided the Magpies to their first major domestic trophy in 70 years by winning the 2025 Carabao Cup and also secured UEFA Champions League qualification in 2023 and 2025.

Last season, Newcastle reached the Champions League round of 16 before losing 8-3 on aggregate to Barcelona. The club’s Carabao Cup title defence ended in the semi-finals, while its league campaign failed to meet expectations after a fifth-place finish the previous season.

During his time in charge, Howe recorded 84 Premier League wins, 38 draws and 57 defeats in 179 league matches. His 84 league victories are the most by any Newcastle manager, while his 46.9 per cent win rate is surpassed only by Kevin Keegan.