Daily Mail

Newcastle United have appointed Paul Mitchell as the club's new sporting director.

Mitchell has previously worked with Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig on player recruitment.

He replaces Dan Ashworth, who recently left Newcastle to join Manchester United following drawn-out negotiations over compensation.

Mitchell - who has also held roles with MK Dons and AS Monaco in the past - said in a club statement on Thursday: 'It's with immense pride that I accept the responsibility of being Newcastle United's new sporting director.

'I've seen the recent growth and ambition of the club. This, plus the amazing fan base, made the decision to join an easy one. I can't wait to get started and help continue the organisation's growth and long-term competitiveness in all areas of elite football performance.'

Newcastle CEO Darren Eales added: 'We are delighted to welcome Paul to Newcastle United. He brings a successful track record and wealth of experience to the club.

'His extensive and diverse experience in football leadership, cultural change and recruitment mean he is the ideal person to lead our sporting directorate.

'We look forward to working with Paul and supporting him in our pursuit of long-term, sustainable success.'

Mitchell's appointment came less than a week after Ashworth's move to Old Trafford had been agreed by all parties.

Ashworth had been on gardening leave for four months and was about to take Newcastle to arbitration after they rejected United's offer of £2million and demanded £20m.

However, the two clubs reached a compromise and issued a joint-statement last weekend.

The statement read: 'Newcastle United and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the immediate release of Dan Ashworth from his contractual obligations at Newcastle United.

'The terms of this agreement remain confidential between the clubs. Newcastle United thanks Dan for his services and wishes him well for the future.'

Newcastle United have appointed Paul Mitchell as the club's new sporting director.

Mitchell has previously worked with Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig on player recruitment.

He replaces Dan Ashworth, who recently left Newcastle to join Manchester United following drawn-out negotiations over compensation.

Mitchell - who has also held roles with MK Dons and AS Monaco in the past - said in a club statement on Thursday: 'It's with immense pride that I accept the responsibility of being Newcastle United's new sporting director.

'I've seen the recent growth and ambition of the club. This, plus the amazing fan base, made the decision to join an easy one. I can't wait to get started and help continue the organisation's growth and long-term competitiveness in all areas of elite football performance.'

Newcastle CEO Darren Eales added: 'We are delighted to welcome Paul to Newcastle United. He brings a successful track record and wealth of experience to the club.

'His extensive and diverse experience in football leadership, cultural change and recruitment mean he is the ideal person to lead our sporting directorate.

'We look forward to working with Paul and supporting him in our pursuit of long-term, sustainable success.'

Mitchell's appointment came less than a week after Ashworth's move to Old Trafford had been agreed by all parties.

Ashworth had been on gardening leave for four months and was about to take Newcastle to arbitration after they rejected United's offer of £2million and demanded £20m.

However, the two clubs reached a compromise and issued a joint-statement last weekend.

The statement read: 'Newcastle United and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the immediate release of Dan Ashworth from his contractual obligations at Newcastle United.

'The terms of this agreement remain confidential between the clubs. Newcastle United thanks Dan for his services and wishes him well for the future.'

Hundreds of players across Europe saw their contracts expire last week on June 30.

As a result, those players are now free agents and therefore available to be signed without the need for a transfer fee.

But who are the best freebies this summer? Mail Sport takes a look at some of the top footballers who are now officially without a club, starting with a five-time Champions League winner...

Raphael Varane

Raphael Varane has spent the majority of his career playing at giant clubs. After a decade at Real Madrid, he joined Man United for £34 million in 2021.

But the 31-year-old - who has won 21 trophies, including the 2018 World Cup with France - appears to be heading to Serie A to join new boys Como following his release by United.

Como, who are part-owned by Cesc Fabregas, played in front of an average home crowd of just over 6,000 fans last season.

Anthony Martial

Anthony Martial, 28, became an instant hit at Old Trafford when he scored a fine goal against Liverpool just minutes into his Manchester United debut following his £56m arrival in 2015.

He went on to net 71 goals across his first five seasons with United, but only added a further 19 in his final four campaigns in England.

United signed Martial from Monaco and a return to Ligue 1 could be on the cards, with Lyon and Marseille said to be interested. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the USA's Major League Soccer are other possible destinations.

Adrien Rabiot

From one Frenchmen who has left Old Trafford to one who could potentially join Man United this summer - midfielder Adrien Rabiot, whose five-year spell with Juventus ended last week.

The 29-year-old - who has featured in all four of France's Euro 2024 games so far - is being linked with the Red Devils for a third successive summer. It is understood that Rabiot was United's top back-up option in case their attempts to land Mason Mount failed 12 months ago.

United are still said to be interested in Rabiot, but AC Milan and Liverpool are also reportedly keen.

Tanguy Ndombele

Tanguy Ndombele is still Tottenham Hotspur's most expensive signing ever following his £65 million arrival from Lyon in July 2019.

Ndombele's contract had been due to expire at the end of June next year but Spurs agreed with the midfielder to terminate his deal 12 months early.

The 27-year-old Frenchman made 91 first-team appearances for Spurs but none since January 2022. He was loaned out to Lyon, Napoli and Galatasaray over the past three seasons.

Dele Alli

Dele Alli recently left Everton after making just 13 Premier League appearances for the club. Had he reached 20 games then the Toffees would have owed former club Tottenham £10m.

The 28-year-old was once one of the highest-rated attacking midfielders in world football, peaking in the 2016-17 season when he netted 22 goals in 50 appearances for Spurs.

He has been capped 37 times by England, although his most recent international outing was back in 2019. However, Dele has publicly stated the he believes he can be a part of England's squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Alli is set to train with Everton for the forseeable future despite the expiry of his contract.

Memphis Depay

Memphis Depay left Atletico Madrid this summer after scoring 13 goals in 40 games for the Spanish outfit. Depay previously netted 14 times in 42 matches for Barcelona, after hitting 76 in 178 for Lyon.

Premier League fans may remember Depay from an underwhelming 53-game stint with Man United between 2015 and 2016 when he scored just seven goals after arriving in a £25m move from PSV Eindhoven.

The 30-year-old - who has scored 46 goals in 95 senior international appearances for the Netherlands - will decide his future after Euro 2024.

Thiago Alcantara

Thiago Alcantara, 33, won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona and Bayern Munich in 2011 and 2020 respectively. He almost won it again in 2022 but his Liverpool side lost 1-0 to Real Madrid in the final.

That loss to Madrid was Thiago's 69th appearance for the Reds. The injury-hit midfielder only played another 29 matches for the Anfield outfit before leaving this summer.

Former manager Jurgen Klopp said when Thiago's departure was announced: 'Before he even came to Liverpool I believed that if you really love football it would make a lot of sense if you watched Thiago Alcantara play.'

Joel Matip

Joel Matip also left Liverpool this summer.

The 32-year-old centre back's last appearance for the club came in December when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

However, Matip's Premier League career may not be over as Bournemouth and Southampton are both said to have him on their transfer short-lists.

Nicolas Pepe

Winger Nicolas Pepe was Arsenal's most expensive signing of all time when he arrived from Lille for a whopping fee of £72m in August 2019, although that record has since been broken by Declan Rice.

Pepe, 33, delivered 16 goals and nine assists in 80 Premier League games for the Gunners. But he last played for Arsenal in the 2021-22 season.

He spent the most recent season on loan at Trabzonspor, having been sent to Nice in the 2022-23 campaign.

Ryan Sessegnon

Ryan Sessegnon could well have been playing left back for England this summer had his promising career not been blighted by multiple injuries.

Like Ndombele, big things were expected of Sessegnon when he arrived at Tottenham in 2019. He cost Spurs a £25m transfer fee from Fulham, who had been reluctant sellers. However, in hindsight, the Cottagers probably got a pretty good deal. Sessegnon played just 57 games for Spurs, scoring three goals.

Sessegnon, still only 24, could be set to stay in London as West Ham are said to be considering making him an offer.

Other players whose contracts ended on June 30 include Wissam Ben Yedder, Mario Hermoso, Guido Rodriguez, Leandro Barreiro, Alex Berenguer, Kelechi Iheanacho and Andre Gomes.

The Premier League's summer transfer window is now open and will not close until August 30. However, free agents can be signed beyond that deadline.

Leeds United have released a remarkable statement after selling Archie Gray to Tottenham for £30m, blaming the teenager's release clause for his departure.

Gray's move to Spurs was confirmed on Tuesday morning, with the 18-year-old leaving his boyhood club after making 52 appearances and starring in their run to the Championship play-off final last season.

However, Leeds suffered heartbreak at Wembley as they were beaten 1-0 by Southampton. Following their failure to secure promotion back to the Premier League, Leeds were left in the position of having to raise funds this summer, and have revealed they reluctantly allowed Gray to leave after Spurs triggered a release clause in his contract.

A club statement on Tuesday morning read: 'Leeds United can confirm Archie Gray has completed a permanent transfer to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for an undisclosed fee, after the North London outfit met a release clause that was triggered by the club’s failure to get promoted at the first attempt.

'Understanding the attraction of Premier League and European football, the club, with a heavy heart, agreed the transfer, but the move has strengthened the board’s resolve to ultimately return Leeds to a position where it can meet the footballing ambitions of even its brightest stars.

'Whilst we understand that supporters will be hugely disappointed to lose such a home-grown talent, and a family name so synonymous with Leeds United, the move improves the club’s chance to compete for automatic promotion next season by increasing our ability to build a competitive squad within the league’s financial control regulations.

'Everyone at Leeds United is heartbroken to see one of our own depart and would like to thank Archie for all his efforts and professionalism. He leaves with the very best wishes for his future career and in the knowledge that Leeds will always be his home.'

Leeds' statement blaming Gray's release clause received little sympathy from fans as they raged online at the club's decision to let Gray go.

'"Heartbroken"? Just be matter of fact about it, you gambled on promotion last yr by putting the clause in, and bluff has been called so hands tied. Or you're blaming Archie. Either way this whole thing has been fudged,' one fan wrote on X.

'Them pesky clauses you keep putting in contracts. Get in the sea with your “heartbroken” nonsense,' another added.

'You need a heart to get it broken,' one supporter posted alongside multiple money bag emojis, suggesting Leeds had chosen the cash over trying to keep one of their own.

The mood is different at Spurs, though, after they beat off competition for Gray's signature.

They posted on X: 'We are delighted to announce the signing of Archie Gray from Leeds United. Welcome to Tottenham Hotspur, Archie!' alongside a picture of the teenager holding up his Spurs shirt.

Gray, 18, is Spurs' third signing of the summer after they opted to extend Timo Werner's loan spell from RB Leipzig for another year, and brought in exciting youngster Lucas Bergvall from Swedish club Djurgarden.

Tottenham had looked set to miss out on Gray on Saturday when Brentford held talks with Leeds over a £35m fee for the midfielder.

This sparked a furious reaction from Leeds fans, as they expressed their dismay at potentially losing one of their homegrown talents, who is also the nephew of club legend, Eddie.

Talks subsequently broke down between Brentford and Leeds, but Tottenham swooped in to get their man, and it has not gone down well with Leeds's fanbase.

But Tottenham have continued their busy start to the transfer window as they look to build on a promising first season under Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs narrowly missed out on Champions League football last term after losing form in the final weeks of the season, and Postecoglou admitted he needed to strengthen his squad this summer to take his team to the next level.

Gray will bring versatility to the north London club, having operated in central midfield and at right back for Leeds.

He has already got Tottenham fans excited about what he could bring to the team after footage re-emerged of him putting in a stunning display against Chelsea in the FA Cup last season.

Gray's arrival at Spurs also marks the end of another Tottenham career, with Rodon moving to Elland Road permanently in a separate £10m deal.

The 26-year-old defender moved to Tottenham in 2020 from Swansea, but was limited to 24 appearances in his first two seasons at the club.

He was loaned to out to Ligue 1 outfit Rennes for the 2022-23 season, and then spent last year on loan at Leeds.

Rodon was a regular fixture in Daniel Farke's side, and has now joined Leeds for good as they aim to bounce back from their play-off misery next season.

Tottenham haven't been made to wait long for the first north London derby of the Premier League season following the announcement of the fixtures for the 2024-25 season.

The English top flight fixtures were revealed on Tuesday at 9am with clubs learning their fates a little over a month after the 2023-24 campaign came to a close.

Managers will have been waiting patiently to see who their sides will take on in some of the key dates, how they start and the state of their run ins with a little over seven weeks to go until the season gets underway.

For Tottenham, it's a promoted side up first in the form of Leicester, when their rivalry from the 2015-16 season, which saw the Foxes lift the league title, will be reignited.

Their first game of the season against arch rivals Arsenal will then take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in mid-September, currently scheduled for the 14th, the club's fourth game of the season, with the return leg pencilled in for January 14.

Elsewhere, Ange Postecoglou's side have been given a favourable run in for the first time in a while, and will end the season at home to Brighton - their first final game at home in six years.

That will follow matches against Southampton, Wolves and Nottingham Forest in April, with just the second away from home, before away trips to Liverpool and West Ham and and home tie against Crystal Palace.

In their penultimate match of the season, Postecoglou and Co will face a tough test away to Aston Villa, a match that, if last season is anything to go by, could be vital.

Around the Christmas period, it will be a trip to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day and a home match against Newcastle Spurs' first game of 2025, with another home game, against Wolves, sandwiched inbetween.

Matches against another rival, Chelsea, will take place on December 7 (home) and April 2 (away).

There will be no Champions League to worry about for the Londonders after coming up short last season, but a revamped Europa League could cause fixture congestion.

An away game against Manchester United at Old Trafford (September 28) days after the first group game will make for a tough fixture, while if they reach the final (May 21), they will have to return to league action against Brighton on the final day of the season four days later.

Read the full list of Tottenham's fixtures below:

Tottenham will have to wait just four games to take on Arsenal next season in the Premier League.

The full fixtures for the 2024-25 season were released on Thursday morning at 9am, with Tottenham learning they will take on Leicester away from home in their first game of the new campaign, with the Arsenal match, also at home, currently scheduled for September 14.

Ange Postecoglou's side have been given a favourable run-in and will end the season at home for the first time in six years with a match against Brighton, also taking on the likes of Southampton, Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace in April and May.

Read the full list below:

All fixtures are subject to change once live TV schedule has been finalised.

Spurs have a strong interest in the England international and preparing to make an offer for the Blues star, who is also a target Atletico Madrid.

The north London outfit endured a mixed season in Ange Postecoglou's debut first year in charge - as they narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot.

Arsenal are currently two points ahead of City in the table - having played a game more - but with one game left to play, their chances of winning the Premier League hinges on arch-rivals Spurs.

Son, Spurs' top scorer this campaign with 15 goals, took the captain's armband after Tottenham's record goalscorer Harry Kane moved to Bayern Munich last year.