Who is Sean Longstaff? Get to know the Newcastle United hero who joined Leeds United in 2025

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Sean Longstaff is a midfielder who plays for Leeds United having joined from Newcastle United in 2025.

It’s been a good start to the summer transfer window for Leeds United as Daniel Farke works to get his squad into Premier League shape.

Lukas Nmecha was the first arrival on a free from Wolfsburg and he was followed through the door by Jaka Bijol in a £15m move from Udinese.

Sebastiaan Bornauw and Gabriel Gudmundsson followed, before Sean Longstaff made it signing number five.

There’s still a lot of work to do, though, with Leeds aiming to sign a goalkeeper, striker and winger as top priorities.

After Joe Rothwell and Josuha Guilavogui’s departures, Leeds were light on midfield numbers and need to strengthen before the season begins against Everton.

Longstaff arrived just before Anton Stach, and here’s all you need to know about him.

• Who is Anton Stach? Meet the giant German who will help Leeds United grow in the Premier League

Who is Sean Longstaff?

Sean Longstaff is a combative, all-action midfielder who has spent the entirety of his career at Newcastle.

The local lad joined his boyhood club’s academy when he was just nine years old and climbed his way up the ranks to become a first-team regular.

Longstaff briefly left Newcastle on two loans, six months at Kilmarnock and then a highly successful season at Blackpool in 2017-18.

He made his debut aged 19 and has gone on to make over 200 appearances, with career highlight goals against Paris Saint-Germain and a brace to send the Magpies to the 2023 Carabao Cup final.

Longstaff fell down the pecking order at Newcastle following the arrivals of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, seeing him leave for Leeds.

Who is Sean Longstaff’s brother?

Longstaff’s younger brother, Matty Longstaff, is also a footballer and the pair were once teammates at Newcastle.

Matty left Newcastle in 2023 and now plays for Toronto FC.

Sean Longstaff to Leeds United transfer

Leeds are aiming to sign experienced players this summer, so the squad has Premier League know-how, and Longstaff has well over 300 games under his belt.

Longstaff was first touted as a Leeds target in 2024, with it being claimed the Whites could go for him if promotion was secured.

Now that Leeds are back in the Premier League, Longstaff once again emerged as a possible signing.

As is becoming a trend, Angus Kinnear’s Everton were said to be interested, while Manchester United had also been linked.

A £10m pricetag had been mooted for Longstaff, a player Sandro Tonali believes is very underrated.

It had been widely reported that Leeds had agreed a £12m deal for Longstaff, however, it then emerged that the offer was rejected by Newcastle.

Shortly afterwards, Leeds agreed a £15m package for Longstaff, £12m up front with £3m in additional bonuses.

Longstaff credits Karl Darlow as one of the figures who helped convince him to join.

Sean Longstaff age and height

Longstaff was born on October 30, 1997, in North Shields, Northumberland, England. As of October 2025, he is 28 years old.

Despite his years of experience, Longstaff is still in the peak years of his career and has plenty to offer to Leeds.

Longstaff stands at 5’11” tall, but appears much taller on the pitch thanks to his physical presence.

Sean Longstaff salary

According to SalarySport, Longstaff was paid £28,000 a week at St. James’ Park, which works out at £1.45m a year.

That is well within Leeds’ wage budget but it’s not yet clear what he earns at his new club.

Sean Longstaff stats

Longstaff’s career stats so far.

Sean Longstaff Instagram and X/Twitter accounts

Longstaff has an official Instagram account with 142k followers @seanlongstaff97.

He also has an official X, formerly Twitter, account @seanlongstaff97.