🚨DONE DEAL: Another GEM Arrives at Newcastle as Magpies Beat Spanish Giants to Seal Five-Year Signing!

While work continues behind the scenes to strengthen Eddie Howe’s first-team squad, Newcastle United’s academy recruitment team continues to impress with another exciting addition for the future.

The Magpies have reportedly beaten competition from La Liga clubs Valencia and Villarreal to secure the signing of highly-rated youngster Afner Cá following his departure from Levante.

The news was first reported by ESPN journalist Rodra on X before being picked up by respected Newcastle reporters, including Mark Douglas and The Chronicle. Although the club has yet to make an official announcement, the move is believed to be complete.

Standing at an imposing 6’4″, the Guinea-Bissau forward is regarded as a player with enormous potential and is expected to join Newcastle’s academy setup ahead of the 2026/27 season. He will link up with another exciting arrival, Kyran Thompson, who is also set to join the Magpies from Arsenal as the club continues to strengthen its youth ranks.

Newcastle acted quickly to secure the deal

According to reports, Newcastle moved swiftly to sign the free agent after Levante confirmed his departure. Cá is said to have agreed a five-year contract with the club, completing the move just a week after celebrating his 19th birthday.

Primarily a centre-forward, Cá is also capable of playing on the right wing, giving him valuable versatility as he continues his development. While he is expected to begin his Newcastle career with the Under-21 side, his ability to operate in multiple attacking positions could eventually catch Eddie Howe’s attention if he continues to progress.

Should Newcastle fail to add another wide attacker this summer and Jacob Murphy depart before the transfer window closes, there could be a pathway for one of the club’s emerging young talents to make an impression in the future. For now, however, the focus will be on helping Cá adapt to English football and continue his development within Newcastle’s academy.

At the time of writing, Newcastle United have not officially confirmed the signing. However, the club has often taken its time before announcing academy additions, so supporters are unlikely to be overly concerned by the lack of confirmation.

Pre-season offers young stars a chance to shine

Newcastle’s academy continues to produce exciting prospects, with several youngsters believed to be pushing closer to first-team involvement. The club’s investment in youth recruitment is becoming increasingly evident, and supporters will be hoping some of those talents can make the step up over the coming seasons.

Pre-season also provides an excellent opportunity for young players to impress. The Magpies begin their schedule today with a behind-closed-doors friendly against Darlington, giving coaches another chance to assess several academy prospects alongside members of the senior squad.

Whether Afner Cá will feature remains to be seen, especially with no official announcement having been made yet. However, supporters will be eager to get their first glimpse of the highly-rated teenager whenever he is available.

One player who is unlikely to feature is Park Seung-soo, with the promising youngster currently away on international duty representing South Korea’s Under-23 side at the Asian Games.

If reports are accurate, Cá’s arrival represents yet another statement of intent from Newcastle as they continue to invest in the next generation of talent while building for both the present and the future.