Longstaff’s 18-year association with his boyhood club has now officially come to an end, with the 27-year-old completing his £15m move to Leeds, where he’s signed a four-year contract.
Longstaff departs having made 214 Magpies appearances and was a central figure in some huge moments on Tyneside in recent years.
His semi-final brace against Southampton saw Newcastle secure a place in the 2023 Carabao Cup final and he was also on the scoresheet in the incredible 4-1 dismantling of PSG.
He was also part of the squad that ended the long wait for silverware on Tyneside and won last season’s Carabao Cup.
But game-time was hard to come by for the midfielder in the second half of last season, and having moved into the last year of his contract, a move to Leeds suited all parties.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Longstaff reached out to his former Newcastle teammate Karl Darlow as he closed in on his Leeds move, and felt wanted by the Premier League newcomers, who are trying to build a squad to survive in the top flight.
Longstaff said: “I remember obviously playing here [Elland Road] as a little kid, nine, 10 years old. It is funny where life takes you.
“So to be back here now with the plans for the club and stuff, I think it is just really exciting to get going.
“I spoke to [Karl] Darlow straight away, but I have got to meet everyone. It seems like a really good group. I have heard great things.
“I think there is something to be said for a team that wants you and a club that really wants you. I think from the first time I spoke to Leeds, I sort of got a feeling that they really wanted me.
“It just fills you full of confidence and it just makes you want to repay those people. It is a massive, massive football club similar to Newcastle in a lot of ways.
“It was going to take a lot for us to leave Newcastle to be honest and I wasn’t just going to leave to go anywhere so it had to be the right place for me and my family and I think this is a perfect place.
“I got to watch pretty much all the games and see a team that was really exciting to watch, athletic, really good on the ball.
“Every time I came to play at Leeds the atmosphere was amazing it was always bouncing and a really tough place to play and just looking forward to having that on my side rather than having to play against.”
The Magpies said in a statement: “Everybody at Newcastle United would like to thank Sean for his outstanding contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future.”
