After finishing his rehabilitation with Newcastle United, the midfielder relocated to the United States.
Matty Longstaff has signed a two-year contract with MLS side FC Toronto, eight months after being released by Newcastle United.
The 23-year-old’s exit from St James’ Park was confirmed in June, although he remained at the club’s Benton training base in the months following to finish his recuperation from an ACL injury incurred on Boxing Day 2022 while on loan at League Two side Colchester United.
Longstaff told NewcastleWorld about his recovery in December: “I came on for the final ten minutes of a game, tried to turn, and I just felt a snap. As soon as I heard it pop, I knew I had completed my ACL. They had a player suffer the same injury in the first half, and I said on the bench that you could tell it was severe – but I had no idea it would happen to me seventy minutes later.
“The most important thing you learn in football is that 70–80 percent of the game is mental. It’s probably stuff people don’t see because they show up on game day and assess you based on 90 minutes. But, as a player, you have everything in training: appropriate preparation, coping with ups and downs.”
After regaining full fitness, Longstaff has made the move across the pond, signing a two-year contract through 2025 with an option for 2026.
“I can’t thank Newcastle enough for what they’ve done,” Longstaff stated previously. “They’ve been there for me whenever I needed them, and I’ve been working with the physio Alex the entire time. She’s been incredible, and I’m really fortunate with the way the management and Dan Ashworth have dealt with me.
“They’ve allowed me to be present in the building at all times; they communicate with me every day and keep me involved in everything. That demonstrates the type of people that are now associated with the football club; it’s not only about football for them; they also care about the human side of things. They’ve accompanied me every step of the way.”
Longstaff appeared in 20 first-team games for Newcastle and scored three goals, the most noteworthy being his winning strike against Manchester United on his Premier League debut in 2019. He signed a new contract at the end of the following season, but his playing time was severely restricted by then-head coach Steve Bruce.
