OFFICIAL: Elliot Anderson signs new long-term deal with Newcastle United

Newcastle United made official the re-signing of midfielder and 19-year-old Elliot Anderson on Wednesday. Anderson, an academy product, is signing an unspecified long-term deal with Newcastle after debuting with the first team last season and thus extending his contract—one set to expire in 2024 prior to yesterday’s news.

Labeled by the Magpie fanbase as the “Geordie Maradona” and highly valued by the club, Anderson has spent all of his life playing football in Black and White threads. Born in Whitley Bay, part of the North Tyneside borough in Tyne and Wear, Elliot Anderson will turn 20 next November 6.

While he first played for his hometown Wallsend Boys Club, he only did so before joining Newcastle at the ripe age of eight, later signing a professional contract with the Tyneside organization in 2019.

It took Anderson a couple of years after that deal became a reality to break into the first team of Newcastle, but he ultimately achieved the fit under the guidance of post-takeover manager Eddie Howe this season. Anderson had made his official debut a few months before Howe took charge of Newcastle, though, debuting in a FA Cup tie against Arsenal back in January 2021.

Anderson reacted to the signing of the contract by saying that “I’m really happy,” and making clear that “I love playing for Newcastle United, and committing my future to the club is something I’ve really wanted to do.”

After spending time away from St James’ Park while loaned to Bristol Rovers, Anderson came back to Tyneside to train with the team ahead of this season and ultimately earned a place in the first-team squad. He is not officially registered as part of the 25-man contingent, though, given he’s still young enough not to require such a tag and thus leaving one more open spot for Eddie Howe to tinker with when it comes to inscribing players in the Premier League.

While the midfielder has yet to score a goal for his lifelong team, Anderson bagged eight goals for Bristol—in 21 games played—over his period with the Pirates.

Eddie Howe offered his reasoning for the approval of this deal, stating that “[the coaching staff is] delighted with Elliot’s development. He is a natural talent, but he also has an excellent work ethic and always wants to learn.”

Dan Ashworth, the sporting director of Newcastle’s choice who joined the club earlier this summer, noted that “[Newcastle’s] strategy is not just about who we can buy, it is also about who we have and how we nurture and develop our best young talent.” He added something quite important to that message, saying that “it’s crucial for the club and our Academy to provide a pathway for our young players and a belief that if they are good enough, they will get an opportunity to play.”

Here at CHN we’ll be rooting for the Geordie Maradona to lift the Premier League title as a Magpie at some point throughout his still-to-unfold career. You bet.