Sean Longstaff admits the Newcastle United squad found Nottingham Forest signing Jonjo Shelvey ‘really sad’. The midfielder finalised a transfer to the City Ground on deadline day.
Nottingham Forest signed three new players this Tuesday as Steve Cooper made last-ditch moves in their bid to avoid relegation. Shelvey has moved to the Reds on a two-and-a-half-year contract. While Felipe joined from Atletico Madrid and Kaylor Navas arrived from PSG.
Shelvey had spent the last seven years at St James’ Park after switching from Swansea City in January 2016. Steve McClaren paid the Jacks £12m for the midfielder, who would go on to enjoy 202 matches in black-and-white. He also offered the Toon 18 goals and 25 assists.
But the 30-year-old only registered five of his appearances across all competitions for 122 minutes this season. Magpies boss Eddie Howe could only call on Shelvey to feature during October and November due to a pre-season hamstring injury and a calf issue in December.
Shelvey was also out of contract at St James’ this summer with his £70k-a-week deal set to expire on June 30. Howe admitted that the midfielder’s desire for a longer contract played a factor in Newcastle allowing his transfer to Nottingham Forest having wanted him to say.
Longstaff reveals Shelvey’s transfer to Nottingham Forest upset Newcastle
Nottingham Forest had already raided Newcastle once in January before sealing Shelvey’s transfer after signing Chris Wood. The Reds loaned the striker with a conditional obligation to buy this summer for £15m. He only joined the Toon last January from Burnley for £25m.
To see Shelvey follow Wood to Nottingham Forest in a deadline day transfer has upset the Newcastle squad, Longstaff has revealed. The midfielder was a part of a close-knit team at St James’. He was also one of the Magpies’ longest-serving players after seven years there.
“We lost Jonjo today and that’s been emotional for the group,” Longstaff told talkSPORT. “He’s been here a long time. I still remember the first time I met him at the orange juice machine. We are really sad and, of course, Woodsy [has] gone, too.
“So, we’ve lost key parts of our team. The group was so together that it is quite sad when people leave now. It was great to see them tonight [at the Southampton match].”
Just Paul Dummett and Jamaal Lascelles have been with Newcastle for longer than Shelvey was among their current side. Dummett was a product of the club’s academy and made his debut in 2013. Lascelles signed from Nottingham Forest in 2014 but he arrived a year later.
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