Newcastle appoint Tomas Amaral as new head of first-team recruitment

Newcastle appoint Tomas Amaral as new head of first-team recruitment Newcastle United have confirmed the appointment of Tomas Amaral as their new head of first-team recruitment as the club continue to restructure their football operations. The 35-year-old Portuguese executive arrives with extensive experience in European football, having most recently served as sporting director at Spartak Moscow. Amaral has also held scouting positions at Benfica, Real Valladolid, SD Eibar and Granada, developing a network of contacts across several European leagues. His appointment follows the departure of long-serving recruitment chief Steve Nickson, who left Newcastle to join Wrexham, and senior football executive Andy Howe. Newcastle have subsequently revised their recruitment structure, with Amaral assuming responsibility specifically for identifying and assessing players for the senior squad. The change represents a departure from the previous arrangement, under which recruitment responsibilities covered a broader range of age groups. Paul Midgley, formerly the club’s head of youth recruitment, will now serve as head of global talent development. Midgley will report directly to Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson, who is overseeing the restructuring of the club’s football department. The revised structure is intended to establish clearer responsibilities between senior recruitment and the development of emerging talent. Wilson welcomed Amaral’s arrival, describing the appointment as an important development in Newcastle’s long-term planning. “Tomas’ appointment is an important step as we reshape and strengthen our recruitment structure,” Wilson said. The sporting director highlighted Amaral’s reputation for identifying talent, his understanding of European transfer markets and his established relationships within the game. Wilson believes the Portuguese executive possesses the expertise required to support Newcastle’s ambitions as the club continue developing their recruitment operations. Amaral expressed his enthusiasm about joining Newcastle and acknowledged the expectations surrounding the club. “It is with great pride and a strong sense of responsibility that I join Newcastle United, a historic club with passionate supporters who have high expectations and ambitions,” he said. The Portuguese also revealed that discussions with Wilson had helped convince him of the club’s direction. He indicated that Newcastle’s long-term vision aligned with his own approach to recruitment and football development. Amaral’s arrival comes as Newcastle seek greater consistency in their transfer strategy following several significant changes behind the scenes. The club have invested heavily in strengthening their squad in recent seasons, increasing the importance of effective scouting and recruitment decisions. His immediate responsibilities will centre on identifying players capable of improving the first team while supporting Newcastle’s longer-term sporting objectives. The appointment completes another important stage in the club’s ongoing efforts to establish a more specialised recruitment department.