EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle set to sign England youth star Josh Kenchington

Alongside a number of quality senior signings, Newcastle United have quietly recruited several highly-rated youngsters since the takeover.

Alongside impressive winger Michael Mills (Port Vale) and Under-18 striker Kacey Wooster (Southend), the club brought in Sam Alabi from Oldham in 2023, who continues to impress behind the scenes.

A few months on from Newcastle's move for West Brom teenager Muawiya Ghanem and Liverpool's Isaac Moran, we can exclusively reveal that Josh Kenchington is the latest youth talent set to sign.

Kenchington is an England Under-15 international and arrives highly-rated, with the young centre-back was voted Barnsley's Academy Player of the Year for the 2024/25 season.

Newcastle have beaten a number of 'big six' rivals to Kenchington's signing, with the deal considered yet another coup at Little Benton for the Yorkshiremen known for his physicality and ball-playing ability.

Alabi impressing Eddie Howe

On the subject of youth stars, 16-year-old midfielder Sam Alabi has arguably progressed through the ranks more than any other Academy talent at the club two years on from his arrival, winning a new full-time deal on Tyneside back in July as a result.

Starting off in our Under-16 side two seasons ago, he stepped up to our Under-18 side last term and is now featuring for the Under-21s, scoring a penalty in Wednesday night's shootout win at Mansfield.

The skilful England Under-17 international has not only shot up from Under-16 to Under-21 level in the space of two seasons, but he's now been invited to train with Eddie Howe's senior side twice over the past month.

After training alongside first team stars like Sandro Tonali and Nick Woltemade at the end of September, new photos (see below) from the club's training base have shown Alabi between Howe and new sporting director Ross Wilson during a session this week.

Much like Paul Mitchell barely 12 months ago, Wilson has been pictured with performance director James Bunce and Howe at our Benton training base as he takes a closer look at the inner workings of the club.