Newcastle United’s head of recruitment Steve Nickson is set to leave the club.Nickson has informed Newcastle of his intention to depart, and while the exact timings of his St James’ Park exit remain unclear, all parties are comfortable with the situation.A move to the Championship is on the radar for Nickson as his next anticipated career move following 15 years at Newcastle.Nickson has been Newcastle’s head of recruitment since 2017, where he has been responsible for leading the club’s scouting operation, and he previously worked as head of youth recruitment, having joined the club from Blackburn Rovers in 2011.He led the signings of Sven Botman and Joelinton, and has driven the purchase of young prospects, including Antonio Cordero and Vakhtang Salia.During the summer of 2025, Nickson worked alongside Andy Howe, who was placed in interim charge of Newcastle’s first-team recruitment following the departure of sporting director Paul Mitchell and before the appointment of Ross Wilson.
Newcastle are set for an important transfer window this summer, after the impact the protracted Alexander Isak transfer saga in the summer of 2025 had on the club’s business.Newcastle have already sold winger Anthony Gordon to Barcelona in a £69million deal, while they have completed the signing of goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Reims.What impact will this have on Newcastle’s transfer business?Analysis from Newcastle correspondent Chris WaughNickson is a seasoned and highly respected operator and his ability to spot young talent is well regarded, so this will come as a blow to Newcastle.However, if Nickson is to serve a period of notice, that will offer Newcastle the opportunity to succession plan. What’s more, the summer strategy is already in place, with targets identified, so the short-term effect should be minimal.In one sense, though, Newcastle’s post-takeover recruitment structure has also felt ‘untidy’. Andy Howe followed his uncle Eddie Howe, the head coach, to Tyneside and has held several titles within the recruitment department since.He is currently a senior football executive and has been involved in many of the major signings made under the present ownership. Andy Howe was asked to oversee incoming transfers during the summer of 2025 once Paul Mitchell departed as sporting director, despite at that point holding the title of assistant head of recruitment, which hierarchically sits below Nickson’s head of recruitment.Nickson holds a master’s degree in sports directorship, which he studied for at the University of Salford, and has been head of recruitment since 2017, having previously overseen youth transfers.Having recommended Ayoze Perez, Kevin Mbabu and Rolando Aarons, before playing a role in the recruitment of Joelinton, Sven Botman and Yoane Wissa, Nickson’s eye for a player is well regarded internally.
