Newcastle drop biggest hint yet on major switch to a multi-club model

by Jaspar Shepherdson · Published 13 February 2026, 14:55

On the pitch, the PIF-backed Newcastle United project has been a resounding success for much of the last four and a half years. Off the pitch, there’s still plenty of work to do.

Under Eddie Howe, we’ve gone from a side seemingly destined for relegation to qualifying for the Champions League on different occasions and winning domestic silverware in the 2025 Carabao Cup.

But that success has come despite multiple shakeups, with several sporting directors coming and going, still no training ground sponsor, an ongoing wait on our stadium plans and few updates on our venture into a multi-club model.

Until now, that is, as a new report hints that a big announcement is coming our plans for a multi-club model to be adopted.

Toon preparing for multi-club move

According to The Mail’s Craig Hope, Newcastle staff have been told to prepare for the implementation of a multi-club model in the near future, as the PIF is set to rival BlueCo and the CFG for a prominent position in European football.

Extensive work has taken place behind the scenes to ‘pick’ what clubs would join the system, with Hope revealing that clubs in France and Belgium have been considered.

Belgian Pro League side KV Oostende had been on our radar before their bankruptcy in 2024, while former co-owner Amanda Staveley previously revealed that clubs in Asia, Australia and Brazil had also been explored

One of the main perks of an admittedly divisive multi-club model is that it can afford clubs more opportunities to send young talent and future stars out on loan. This is something Chelsea have done to great effect through their connection with Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

And the opportunity to work in the next phase of our youth development plans would be an enticing project for those within our academy system, with staff in that department said to be aware of the changes coming soon.

On that note, erhaps academy chief Paul Midgley rejected Manchester United and chose to stay at St James’ Park knowing what was in the works?

Speaking about our multi-club model search back in 2024, Staveley touched on the markets we've explored and the model's ability to benefit our youth system:

“We’ve looked at Belgium, we’ve looked at European markets, we’ve looked in Asia, Australia, we’ve looked in Brazil – pretty much everything.

“We’ve looked at every market and getting players through our academy system and through that multi-club model would be very helpful in terms of allowing us to buy and have players as part of our journey earlier on.”

With David Hopkinson in place as our experienced CEO and sporting director Ross Wilson also part of a new executive spine working behind the scenes, hopefully this is the first of many major moves in 2026.