Newcastle Announce Departure of Player Hours After Transfer Window Closes

Newcastle United have confirmed that a club legend has joined Leicester City in a move completed hours after the transfer deadline.

After four, relatively quiet, weeks of moves, the 2025/26 winter transfer window closed at 19:00 GMT.

While some clubs stayed busy throughout the window, with the likes of Manchester City securing two major signings, others instead decided to sit still and wait until the summer to make their moves.

Among the clubs choosing not to make any transfer decisions in January was Newcastle United, who decided against any major signings or sales ahead of the deadline.

However, the club have now released a statement confirming that a veteran player has left the club to join Leicester City more than 12 hours after the deadline passed.

Newcastle United remained quiet in the transfer window. (Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

In a statement released on the club website, Newcastle confirmed that defender Jamaal Lascelles, 32, has completed a move to Leicester City.

The club legend made 253 appearances for the Magpies during his 12-year spell at St James' Park, captaining the side throughout their journey from the Championship to the Champions League.

Lascelles has been a key player for Newcastle throughout much of his career, but has featured just twice for the Magpies since March 2024 after a serious knee injury ruled him for the entirety of last season.

His final appearance was a substitute appearance during the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in September.

"Everybody at Newcastle United wishes Jamaal the very best of luck for the future and thanks him for his outstanding contribution to the club. He will always be welcome at St. James' Park," Newcastle wrote in the club statement.

Jamal Lascelles has left Newcastle United after 12 years. (Image: Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Leicester, who are currently 16th in the Championship table and currently without a manager, made moves to sign Lascelles on deadline day but delays with processing paperwork meant that the move was only confirmed on Tuesday.

"I'm buzzing to get through the door," he told the Foxes website.

"I just can't wait to help out as much as I can, try to push us up the league," he said.

Lascelles joins Leicester City having previously played in the Championship for their East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest, who handed him his professional debut in 2012 after he came up through the club academy.