Star makes Eddie Howe claim as Newcastle United trigger contract clause

The defender has extended his contract with Newcastle United until the summer of 2025.
Emil Krafth has revealed how Eddie Howe convinced him to stay at Newcastle United after the Swede last week signed a contract extension until 2025.

The 29-year-old signed a two-year contract extension in the summer of 2024, but suffered an ACL injury that sidelined him for 15 months.

Krafth made a long-awaited comeback in November, starting Carabao Cup games against Manchester United and Chelsea. He also played the majority of the 3-0 victory over Fulham in December, following Fabian Schar’s departure.

With his previous contract about to expire at the end of the season, Krafth confessed he was worried about his future, but a talk with Howe helped paint a more complete picture. Newcastle exercised a one-year extension clause in his contract.

Krafth stated, “Before the meeting, I had no idea where the club and the coach stood, but afterward, it felt obvious.” It was a big comfort to learn that both he and the club wanted to keep me.

“It’s clear there were some other thoughts, but the meeting I had with him was the final nail in the coffin.” Signing became much easier.

“He [Eddie Howe] was really on me, he pushed it the most,” Krafth told Sportbladet. “We had a pleasant talk in which he stated that I was not leaving, that he trusted me completely, and that I had never disappointed him. Then he respected my injury, and thus

“I may not have played as much as I would have liked, but he made it obvious that he intended to keep me and that I was not leaving. He stated that I had a long future at the club.

Krafth joined St James’ Park from Amiens in 2019 for £5 million and has already made 73 appearances. He is behind Kieran Trippier and Tino Livramento in the right-back pecking order, but he is unconcerned about the rivalry for positions.

“We are a top club, so there should be competition,” the versatile defender explained. “I enjoy competing against good players; it helps me improve. I don’t believe you should be regarded as the obvious number one all the time, but everything should be based on how you do in training and matches.”