Newcastle United finalise ‘exciting’ double swoop as chief credits recruitment team..
Newcastle United academy director Steve Harper paid tribute to the club’s recruitment team.
Newcastle United have raided Scottish giants Rangers for two of their most promising youngsters.
Oliver Goodbrand and Alfie Hutchison have joined the Magpies’ academy to link up with Chris Moore’s under-18s squad as first-year scholars. The pair are both 16 years old and have represented Scotland at youth level.
Newcastle United double Rangers swoop
Goodbrand has risen through the youth ranks at Rangers and, after regularly featuring for the club’s under-18s side, made his B team debut last season aged 15 in a 5-0 win over Partick Thistle in the Glasgow Cup.
He has captained Scotland at youth level, wearing the armband during the under-16s 2024-25 Victory Shield campaign.
Meanwhile, Hutchison, who can play as a striker or on the wing, only joined Rangers from Hearts in 2024 but quickly caught the eye of Newcastle and other top-flight clubs.
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Having represented Scotland at under-15 level, he too made his Rangers B team debut last season, scoring two goals against Queen’s Park in a 3-1 win in the Glasgow Cup earlier this year.
Speaking after the game, Hutchison said: “It’s a really good [feeling]. It was my debut in the tournament, so it was really good to start off with two goals.
“The first one has just fell to me inside the six-yard box and it was about just my touch, turn and finishing on target. I can play both through the middle and off the sides, both as well as each other.”
Newcastle United academy director Steve Harper reacts
Newcastle academy director Steve Harper said: “Alfie and Oliver are two exciting additions to our Academy and we’re really pleased to bring them into the programme.
“They’ve both shown strong potential at club and international level and arrive with a great attitude and a hunger to keep improving.
“Our recruitment team deserve great credit for bringing Alfie and Oliver to the club and we’re confident they’ll benefit from the environment we’ve created here.
“We’re looking forward to seeing them both settle into the group and supporting their development as they take their next steps in the game.”
Newcastle United academy & PSR
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Since the takeover in October 2021, youth investment has been prioritised as the club aims to combat Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) pressures.
Developing players for Eddie Howe’s first team is cost-effective and was a strategy previously neglected by Mike Ashley. Even if youngsters fail to make the cut, they can be sold and provide pure profit to the PSR balance sheet.
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