EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle sign West Ham's Kyle Healy-Matthews after beating rivals to deal
Newcastle United have struck their first of many Academy deals set to take place this summer, with work well underway to bolster the club's youth teams once again.
NUFC Blog can exclusively reveal that Newcastle United have won the race to sign talented defender Kyle Healy-Matthews.
A deal has already been signed off for the 16-year-old right-back, who will join as a first-year scholar within the club's rapidly improving youth set-up.
Newcastle held off interest from a number of top Premier League sides to sign Healy-Matthews, who will join the Under-18s heading into the 2026/27 season.
Who is Healy-Matthews?
Healy-Matthews, 16, is a modern-day right-back who is comfortable at both ends of the pitch, receiving praise for his ability to defend and support in attack.
The English defender featured for West Ham's Under-18 side in last season's Southern Premier League (U18), where the Hammers finished 8th, and played a key role for the Under-17s, who went on to win the 2025/26 Premier League Cup.
He is sponsored by PUMA and represented by CAA Stellar, the same agency that looks after Will Osula, Nick Pope and former Academy graduate Elliot Anderson.
More Academy arrivals lined up
Newcastle will be looking to build on a hugely promising 2025/26 at Academy level, with at least seven or eight additions expected across Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 age groups.
Our Under-18s shone in last season's Northern Premier League, finishing behind only Manchester City and Man Utd in a superb campaign for Chris Moore's side.
The club's Under-15 side has also proved to be one of the best in Europe in their age category, beating PSG (April) and Man City (March) in recent finals to win the Orange Veins Cup Rotterdam and Premier League International Tournaments.
Kyle Healy-Matthews' arrival follows previous domestic raids made by the club over the past 18 months, with NUFC Blog the first to bring you news of Muawiya Ghanem (West Brom) and Josh Kenchington (Barnsley) signing last year.
Despite a 2025/26 season of struggle at senior level, the future looks bright at Newcastle United.
Welcome to the club, Kyle!
