Emotional Farewell from Kieran Trippier
Kieran Trippier has expressed deep gratitude to the Newcastle United fans following his announcement that he will be leaving the club at the end of the current season. The 35-year-old full-back, who joined the team from Atletico Madrid in January 2022, has made a total of 158 appearances for Eddie Howe’s side since his arrival.
Trippier, who retired from international football in 2024 after earning 54 caps for England, was the first signing under the Saudi ownership and is widely recognized as one of the key players in the club’s recent rise. When he joined, the team was in the Premier League relegation zone, but they finished the season in 11th place and went on to qualify for the Champions League with a fourth-place finish in the 2022-23 campaign. They repeated this achievement last season with a fifth-place finish, although they were eliminated in the last-16 stage by Barcelona in March.
One of Trippier’s most memorable moments came when he played a crucial role in ending the club’s 70-year domestic trophy drought. He delivered the corner from which Dan Burn scored the opening goal in the Carabao Cup final, leading to a 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Wembley.
Before joining Newcastle, Trippier had previously played in the Premier League for Burnley, where Eddie Howe signed him as a 21-year-old from Manchester City in 2012 after a successful loan spell. He then spent four years at Tottenham before moving to Madrid.
Now, Trippier will focus on helping Newcastle return to European competition. Currently sitting 12th in the Premier League with seven games remaining, the team is only six points behind the top six in a tightly contested mid-table.
In a statement released on Saturday morning, Trippier said: “The time has come to leave this amazing club after four-and-a-half years. This is where I have felt most at home. It’s emotional, and I’m really going to miss it.”
“I want to say a massive thank you to the supporters for all the support through the good and the bad times for me personally. You’ve always supported me, always stood by me.”
“To my teammates, it’s going to be emotional. It’s been an amazing journey with you guys. I’m going to miss you all, but to win a trophy with you guys was really, really special – the best of my career.”
“And to the manager, Eddie Howe, all the coaching staff and the team behind the scenes, a massive thank you. The gaffer had the trust – twice – to sign me, gave me the opportunity to represent and captain this great club and most importantly, we managed to win a trophy.”
“I’m going to miss everyone at the club. Thank you.”
The club now faces a challenging summer ahead. Recent reports indicated that Eddie Howe’s long-term future is uncertain, alongside concerns about the potential sale of key players if the club fails to qualify for the Champions League.
On Saturday, Howe paid tribute to Trippier’s impact, stating: “Kieran has been magnificent for us on and off the pitch. From the moment he walked through the door, he has helped to drive standards that have changed the club’s trajectory.”
“His performances on the pitch have been to the highest level. Building strong partnerships with the players around him. His outstanding technical ability helped elevate the team and his strong crossing ability helped create many goals and chances for his teammates.”
“His leadership skills have been invaluable. In difficult moments his experience has proved calming and his drive and will to win has inspired the players to keep pushing forward.”
“While we’ll be saying goodbye to Kieran shortly, we also know we have a lot left to play for this season, and I know a player of Kieran’s character will be giving absolutely everything to end his time here on a high.”
