Revealed: Newcastle United agree to sign Mills after bid accepted – sources
Newcastle United are poised to sign Port Vale sensation Michael Mills after their bid was accepted, sources have told Football Insider.
The wonderkid, 14, impressed during a recent trial at Newcastle after catching the eye of their scouts while shining for Vale’s Under-15s.
A number of clubs have shown an interest in the winger, but Newcastle have moved quickly to agree a deal.
The north-east giants have agreed to pay a fee for Mills that could rise to £200,000.
Newcastle are aiming to revamp their academy by signing some of the leading young English talents in the youth age groups as they look to develop players for the first team.
The Magpies have a proud history of rearing top-class starlets – with Sean Longstaff, Matty Longstaff and Elliot Anderson among the current stars to make the grade after coming through the club’s academy.
Fans also saw a glimpse of the future during the club’s winter training camp in Saudi Arabia in late 2022, with Under-21 stars Lewis Miley, Dylan Stephenson, Jay Turner-Cooke, Joe White and Alex Murphy all joining Eddie Howe’s senior side in Riyadh.
Miley went on to make his Premier League debut on the final day of the season (28 May), coming off the bench during the 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
Speaking following the Saudi-backed takeover of Newcastle in 2021, co-owner Amanda Staveley confirmed that building a new academy is on the agenda.
Last month (24 May), the Magpies appointed ex-Leicester Recruitment Operations Manager Claire Burrows – one of around 20 key academy appointments made since the takeover.
At the senior level, Newcastle will return to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years in the 2023-24 campaign after achieving a fourth-placed Premier League finish.
In other news, Newcastle slap £100m price tag on star man.