Newcastle wants to take the next step in its ambitious project, and it seems to have found the right name for it. Joel Ordóñez, a 21-year-old Ecuadorian center-back, has become the English club’s newest target and could be at the center of the next big transfer battle in Europe. Valued at around €50 million, the Club Brugge defender has been one of Belgium’s standouts and is starting to attract attention from scouts who spot rising stars before their prices skyrocket. And the team at St. James’ Park looks determined to move early.
Newcastle aims higher
The interest in Ordóñez is no coincidence. Newcastle, still trying to cement its place among the Premier League’s elite, wants a defender with personality, technique, and room to grow. The Ecuadorian checks all those boxes. Since joining Brugge in 2023, he’s played more than 90 matches, scored four goals, and helped the club win three trophies, including last season’s Belgian Championship. He was one of the key figures in the campaign that took the team to the Champions League round of 16, and since then, his name has stayed on the radar of top European clubs.
The Newcastle board knows this won’t be an easy deal. Brugge values the player highly and doesn’t intend to sell him for less than €50 million. The Belgian side plans to negotiate only at the right time, while the English club hopes to use its good relationship with the European market to strike a strategic deal before the competition gets stronger.
Liverpool steps back
Liverpool, which had previously monitored the player, has pulled out of the race. Arne Slot’s coaching staff seems more focused on bringing in experienced defenders, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Ibrahima Konaté’s future, as the Frenchman remains a target for Real Madrid. The Reds’ attention is now on Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, leaving the door open for their rivals.
That shift in priorities has created room for Newcastle and Aston Villa, two clubs that see in Ordóñez a rare chance to sign a young defender already adapted to European soccer and with elite potential. For Newcastle, it’s also a matter of long-term strategy: the club wants to strengthen its defensive core for the future and views the Ecuadorian as the ideal player to grow alongside its project.