The Yankuba Minteh question they all refuse to ask
On 30 June 2024, Yankuba Minteh was sold to Brighton by Newcastle United.
Statements released (see below) by the two clubs the following day, confirming the transfer.
As usual, the transfer fee wasn’t made public, though widely reported as having been agreed at £33m plus potential future add-ons.
Newcastle United selling two promising young players simply due to the PSR position the club found themselves in, with £50m+ needed to immediately improve that PSR position before 30 June 2024, for the latest three year PSR accounting period deadline.
Elliot Anderson made a lot of headlines as he was a homegrown young promising player who had to be sold.
However, arguably the Yankuba Minteh sale made even bigger headlines, due to the fact he had been bought and sold without ever playing a single minute of football for Newcastle United. Whilst this is the norm at clubs like Chelsea, buying and producing young homegrown players then sending them on loan(s), before then selling them at a vast profit without ever giving them a chance at Stamford Bridge, with it being a first at St James’ Park and that immediate PSR pressure to do the sale, made this Yankuba Minteh sale a much bigger story. For both the media and of course, especially the Newcastle United fans.
Selling a promising young player without ever seeing him play (for NUFC), Newcastle fans having read and seen from a distance how Yankuba Minteh has progressed and impressed at Feyenoord on loan throughout last season.
The Yankuba Minteh debate comes into particular focus today, as he and Brighton face Newcastle United for the first time since the transfer.
A transfer that was celebrated by the Seagulls and bemoaned by the Magpies.
Yankuba Minteh started the first four Premier League games of Brighton’s season, was then dropped for the next two, before coming back into their team for the Tottenham match, where they went 2-0 down before coming back to win 3-2. Minteh got the first comeback goal which was also his first PL goal. In his seven appearances so far, he has one assist and that goal.
