Newcastle United will have to pay significant financial compensation to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli after German manager Matthias Jaissle resigned from his position, paving the way for a new chapter in the Premier League.
Jaissle is expected to arrive in England on Saturday to be officially announced as Newcastle’s new head coach, signing a four-year contract that runs until the summer of 2030.
Al-Ahli’s €11M Compensation Package
Newcastle will pay approximately €11 million to Al-Ahli as compensation for securing Jaissle’s services and breaking his contractual bond with the Jeddah-based club.
The English club formally notified Al-Ahli of their intention to hire the 38-year-old manager, ensuring Classy (Al-Raqi) receive a substantial payout for his departure prior to the end of his deal.
Jaissle’s resignation comes despite Al-Ahli announcing a two-year contract renewal in September 2025 with an option for a third year, following his stellar achievements since arriving in Jeddah. Furthermore, the club had reached a preliminary agreement just weeks ago to extend his stay until 2030 to maintain tactical stability, making his abrupt exit a major shift for the Saudi side.
Matthias Jaissle’s Managerial Career & Key Trophies
Jaissle began his coaching journey within the Red Bull setup, working with youth teams at RB Leipzig before taking over at FC Liefering and later Red Bull Salzburg.
The German tactician guided Salzburg to back-to-back Austrian Bundesliga titles as well as the Austrian Cup. He then moved to Al-Ahli in the summer of 2023 following the team’s promotion back to the Saudi Pro League.
At Al-Ahli, Jaissle successfully restored the club’s domestic and continental dominance, leading them to their first-ever AFC Champions League Elite title before successfully defending the crown the following season, in addition to winning the Saudi Super Cup.
What Awaits Jaissle at St James’ Park?
Jaissle inherits a Newcastle squad seeking redemption after a challenging season in which they finished 12th in the Premier League, suffering 17 defeats across 38 matches.
The Magpies were also eliminated from the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 following an 8-3 aggregate defeat to Barcelona, bringing an end to Eddie Howe’s nearly five-year tenure in charge.
Jaissle’s primary task will be restoring stability to Newcastle and preparing the team for the upcoming Premier League campaign amidst sweeping changes to the playing squad during the summer transfer window.
