Newcastle release Alfie Harrison and SIX other Under-21 talents

It wasn't that long ago that Newcastle United fans were excited for the arrival of youngster Alfie Harrison.

The teenager was snatched from Manchester City's academy and hailed as the next big thing, but a couple of friendly appearances for the first team were as good as it got for the young midfielder.

For whatever reason, Harrison failed to match the hype that followed him from Manchester to Newcastle, and now the Magpies have said goodbye to the 20-year-old as the club has confirmed via its website that he is one of seven youngsters cut from the academy.

It just shows how difficult it is to make it in the game. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don't know how to apply it, you're not going to make it.

Seven players failed to earn new contracts

Ciaran Thompson, who has been with the club since he was 13, is also due to leave. He made his only first-team appearance in the controversial post-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur in Australia in 2024.

The other players on their way out are goalkeepers Adam Harrison and James Taylor, striker Joe Brayson, winger Darren Palmer and defender Thomas Bryant.

Hopefully they will all find new clubs soon enough and are able to continue to chase their dream elsewhere.

Is the fault with the academy or the players?

Newcastle's academy is more important than ever these days, with the financial restrictions massively limiting what the club is able to spend on players; the focus is to find young talent and nurture them into first-team stars.

To do that, they need to be ruthless. Anyone who isn't going to make the grade will be released, regardless of how much hype they had when they first arrived.

Many fans have voiced concerns on X in reply to our post about the exit of Alfie Harrison that the Academy is failing to do its job, and we understand that point of view given how much promise Alfie Harrison had, but his failure isn't necessarily the academy's. IT could be down to the player himself.

Time will tell. If Harrison finds a new club and turns into a world-beater, then we can point the finger at our academy.