Newcastle United have reportedly completed a deal to sign a young West Ham academy defender as the club continues work on strengthening its academy structure.
According to NUFC Blog, Newcastle have won the race for 16-year-old right-back Kyle Healy-Matthews, who will join the club as a first-year scholar.
“Newcastle United have won the race to sign talented defender Kyle Healy-Matthews,” NUFC Blog reported. “Newcastle 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.”
The report states that a deal has already been signed off, with Healy-Matthews set to join Newcastle’s Under-18s for the 2026-27 season.
“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,” NUFC Blog reported.
Newcastle reportedly beat interest from several top Premier League clubs to land the defender.
Healy-Matthews previously featured for West Ham United’s Under-18 side in the Southern Premier League and also played a role for the club’s Under-17s, who won the 2025-26 Premier League Cup.
The report describes Healy-Matthews as a “modern-day right-back who is comfortable at both ends of the pitch,” and someone who is already showcasing a two-way game. He is also sponsored by PUMA and represented by CAA Stellar, per the report’s information.
According to NUFC Blog, this is only the first of a wave of moves expected by Newcastle shortly, as the club is set to make several more academy additions this summer across the Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18 age groups.
The club’s Under-18s finished third in the Northern Premier League last season, behind only Manchester City and Manchester United.
