Eddie Howe is leaving Newcastle United with immediate effect, BBC Sport sources have confirmed, bringing an end to nearly four years in charge at St. James' Park.

The 48-year-old's reign concluded on a sour note — a 4-1 pre-season friendly defeat to Bristol City on Wednesday proved to be his final match as manager.

A trophy and two Champions League campaigns

Howe arrived at Newcastle in November 2021, replacing Steve Bruce, and quickly transformed the club following the Saudi-led takeover. His most celebrated achievement was ending the club's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy, guiding the Magpies to the 2025 Carabao Cup.

He also delivered back-to-back Champions League qualifications in 2023 and 2025, establishing Newcastle as a genuine force in European football. Last season, the Magpies reached the last 16 of the Champions League before falling 8-3 on aggregate to Barcelona.

A difficult final season

Despite spending around £240 million on new signings 12 months ago, Newcastle's 2024-25 Premier League campaign fell well short of expectations. The club finished 12th, losing 17 of their 38 league matches — a stark drop from fifth place the season prior.

Their EFL Cup defence also ended prematurely, with elimination in the semi-finals. Pressure on Howe mounted steadily as results failed to improve, and the club's hierarchy ultimately decided to part ways with him.

This summer has brought further turbulence off the pitch, with two key players departing — Sandro Tonali joining Tottenham and Anthony Gordon moving to Barcelona — raising fresh questions about the club's direction ahead of the new campaign.