Emil Krafth

Krafth will depart Newcastle United when his contract expires this summer, bringing an end to a seven-year stay at St. James' Park that began with his arrival from Amiens in 2019, the club announced.

Analysis: Krafth made 106 appearances for the Magpies and won a Carabao Cup winners medal during his time on Tyneside, becoming a fan favorite known for his dependable performances and wholehearted commitment to the club's cause. Coach Eddie Howe paid tribute to Krafth's embodiment of what it means to be a Newcastle player, praising his positive mentality and outstanding professionalism even through difficult periods with injury this season. The defender will receive a half-time send-off during Sunday's final home fixture against West Ham, giving the St. James' Park crowd the opportunity to show their appreciation for a player who played a meaningful role in the club's remarkable upturn in fortunes since manager Howe's appointment in 2021. Krafth expressed deep gratitude for his time at the club and pledged to continue following Newcastle's journey from afar.

Feb 17, 2026

Season likely over

Krafth (knee) has had an operation and is likely out for the rest of the season, according to manager Eddie Howe. "Emil's had an operation on his knee, so I think in all likelihood, it looks like the season is over, which is a real blow for us. He first had the problem on international duty. We hoped that he could come back and be okay, but it became apparent in training recently that he wasn't going to get to the level needed, and there needed to be a surgical intervention."

Analysis: Krafth is not receiving a good update Tuesday, as the defender underwent an operation on his knee and is likely to miss the rest of the season. This is a blow to a club that is dealing with issues all over the field, already without Fabian Schar (ankle) and Valentino Livramento (hamstring), now without another depth option in the defense. They will now wait for the return of Sven Botman for the addition of another central defender, currently only with Kieran Trippier left as a backup, and potentially needing to turn to some youth players to fill the bench.

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Emil Krafth

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