Newcastle United are set to make a statement early in the summer transfer window.
According to iPaper, the Magpies are poised to complete the signing of Spanish winger Antonio Cordero, beating both Real Madrid and Barcelona to his signature. The 18-year-old will become Newcastle’s first signing of the window when the deal is finalised next month.
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It is a significant win for the club’s long-term recruitment strategy.
Newcastle transfer news: Antonio Cordero ready to sign for Newcastle United
Cordero is considered one of Spain’s brightest young prospects.
Born in Jerez, the winger came through the youth systems at Cadiz, Sevilla, and Real Betis before joining Malaga in 2021. He has quickly risen through the ranks and is now a regular starter for Malaga’s first team in La Liga 2.
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His numbers at B-team level were outstanding—12 goals in just 17 games in Spain’s fifth tier. That level of end product, paired with his technical flair, made him a target for scouts from Europe’s biggest clubs.
And Newcastle won the race.
The next phase of the club’s strategy
This move fits Newcastle’s evolving recruitment plan.
The club are focused on identifying elite young talent who can either develop into first-team regulars or grow into valuable assets. Cordero is seen as one for the future—but a serious one.
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At just 18, he has already made 32 senior appearances in a tough second division. That blend of youth and experience is exactly what the club want.
The Magpies first opened talks in January. The player and his family even visited Tyneside earlier this year to get a feel for the project.
That visit sealed it.
What happens next?
Newcastle are expected to complete the final stages of the deal in June. But Cordero will not join Eddie Howe’s first-team group straight away.
The club plan to loan him out for more senior minutes and development—potentially abroad or in the Championship. It will be about finding the right environment to accelerate his progress.
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This is not a headline-grabbing transfer. But it is the kind of deal that smart clubs make.
A long-term solution with huge upside
Cordero has the talent, pedigree, and attitude to go far. And Newcastle were aggressive and organised enough to get the deal done before the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona could react.
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In a market where young talent is gold dust, this could prove to be one of the shrewdest moves of the summer.