The 24-year-old has arrived in the North East for his medical after a deal between the rival clubs was agreed. Newcastle will pay £39m up-front and a further £5m in add-ons.
The prospective sale of Ramsey, who has made 167 appearances at Villa Park, will represent pure profit for Villa, who are walking a UEFA financial fair play and PSR tightrope and need to sell.
Personal terms won’t be an issue, so providing the medical goes without a problem, Ramsey could be a Newcastle player by the time they visit Villa Park for Saturday lunchtime’s Premier League opener.
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The arrival of Ramsey will be another major boost for Newcastle after the signing of Malick Thiaw earlier this week. Ramsey has long been admired by Eddie Howe, who prioritised a midfield arrival this summer after the exit of Sean Longstaff to Leeds. With Joe Willock having picked up another injury in the summer, Howe was left short of numbers in midfield, and Ramsey was seen as the ideal profile to play on the left side of the midfield three.
Villa initially wanted to keep Ramsey this summer but with talks over an extension to his contract – which expires in two years – having stalled, reluctantly accepted now was the time to cash in.
Ramsey will become Newcastle’s fourth arrival of the summer, following Anthony Elanga, Aaron Ramsdale and Thiaw, and while the future of Alexander Isak remains uncertain, Howe insisted last week this summer’s transfer window can still be a success on Tyneside.
Isak has continued to train alone at Benton this week and won’t be involved at Villa Park tomorrow. Liverpool remain interested in the Swedish striker but aren’t expected to return with an improved offer until Newcastle sign another striker. Efforts on that front are continuing.
Howe will update on Isak’s situation when he speaks to the media on Friday morning.
Earlier this week, before the arrival of Thiaw and Ramsey breakthrough, the head coach said: “The message is that we are working as hard as we can to the benefit of Newcastle to try one, to improve the squad, two, keep the squad together and harmonious.
“I think the biggest thing for the supporters is that they see everyone fighting for the same cause on the pitch, fighting with every ounce they have for the long-term success.”
