Jamie Reuben’s poignant message to Kieran Trippier after exit announcement

Newcastle United fans learned on Saturday that Kieran Trippier will leave the club at the end of the season.

The 35-year-old's contract is due to expire at the end of June, and the former England right-back has announced his intention to leave the club when his contract is up.

It always seemed like the likely outcome this season, but then Trippier became a regular starter for Eddie Howe and it felt like he may have played his way into a contract extension.

While we don't want to see Kieran Trippier go, his decision to leave is probably the right one for all parties. He could get the chance to go somewhere where first-team football is more guaranteed and the club gets to shift a pretty hefty wage bill off the budget.

Jamie Reuben hit the nail on the head

However, Kieran Trippier's impact at Newcastle United will never be forgotten and co-owner Jamie Reuben summed that up brilliantly in a post on X on Saturday.

"Kieran was our first signing, joined when many others wouldn’t, fought every day for this club and was an inspirational leader, captain and player. Can’t thank him enough and wishing him the very best going forward. JR"

Kieran was our first signing, joined when many others wouldn’t, fought every day for this club and was an inspirational leader, captain and player. Can’t thank him enough and wishing him the very best going forward. JR https://t.co/VShNQ7CC0j

— Jamie Reuben (@jamiereuben) April 4, 2026

While it could be argued that £12 million for a 31-year-old hardly sounds like a statement signing on paper, it's what Rueben says about him joining when many others wouldn't that makes his arrival so important. He showed faith in the project, and that inspired what was to follow.

Bruno Guimaraes will have seen that Newcastle had convinced an England international to join them when they were sitting 19th in the Premier League and thought 'perhaps there's something to this', and without that little extra push, the Brazilian may have stayed in France.

The timing is right

The PIF-era kicked off with Kieran Trippier's arrival, and that'll never be forgotten.

When Trippier had his dip in form last season, there was a lot of pressure for him to be moved on, and we were part of that bandwagon, but we're so glad he stuck around and got himself back together.

Now he gets to leave the club as a hero, when if he'd been sold during a crash in form, it may have tarnished his legacy.