Premier League Profiles: Who are Newcastle United?

Newcastle United have a very rich history. The earliest memories of the club can be traced back to an Elswick Rugby club in 1877 and later that year the first football club was formed in Newcastle. The name was eventually changed to Newcastle United in December of 1892. Under their new name, they started the 1893/94 season in the Second Division along with Liverpool and Woolwich Arsenal. The club appointed Frank Watt as secretary soon after and he was instrumental in getting the club promoted for the 1898/99 season.

During the early 20th century the club developed an entertaining young side praised for their flair in the modern game and The Magpies won League titles on three separate occasions. 1904/05, 1906/07 and 1908/09. They finally won the FA Cup in 1910 after twice missing out on the famous prize previously. The team returned to the FA Cup in 1924, which the second final held at Wembley Stadium beating Aston Villa to win their second FA Cup. Three years later they won the First Division title for the fourth time with Hughie Gallagher who was one of the club's most prolific goal scorers captaining the team. In 1934, Newcastle was relegated to the Second Division for the first time in 35 years.

During the early Premier League years, the club was known as "The Entertainers" under Kevin Keegan. Under Keegan, Newcastle finished runners-up twice in the Premier League and most famously in the 1995/96 season. During that season, Kevin Keegan produced the famous line "I would love it if we beat them, love it". Their performances in the League were down to signings such as David Ginola, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer. In the early 2000's the club was managed by former England manager Sir Bobby Robson who guided the club to a third place finish and got the Magpies into the second group stage of the Champions League.

In 2009 they suffered relegation to the Championship and in 2016 as well but recent fortunes under Rafa Benitez has given Newcastle fans some optimism once again despite the continued mishandling of the club by owner Mike Ashley.

In

Martin Dubravka - Sparta Prague, undisclosed

Ki Sung-yueng - Free

Kenedy - Chelsea, loan

Fabian Schar - Deportivo, £3m

Yoshinori Muto - Mainz, undisclosed

Salomon Rondon - West Brom, loan

Out

Macauley Gillesphey, Carlisle, free

Yannick Aziakonou - released

Kyle Cameron - released

Yasin Ben Elmahanni - released

Owen Gallagher - released

Jesus Gamez - released

Curtis Good - released

Massadio Haidara - Lens, free

Mackenzie Heaney - released

Tom Heardman - released

Jack Hunter - Gateshead, free

Ben Kitchen - free

Oliver Long - free

Lewis McNall - free

Brendan Pearson - free

Callum Smith - Hull, free

Liam Smith - free

Craig Spooner - free

Dan Ward - released

Paul Woolston - free

Callum Williams - Spennymoor Town, free

Stuart Findlay - Kilmarnock, free

Alex Gilliead - Shrewsbury, free

Mikel Merino - Real Sociedad - undisclosed

Jack Colback - Nottingham Forest, loan

Chancel Mbemba - Schalke, undisclosed

Matz Sels - Strasbourg, £3.5m

Adam Armstrong - Coventry, £1.75m