Newcastle United have had a shocker of a transfer window until now.
They have missed out on key targets across all positions, including the likes of James Trafford, Bryan Mbeumo, Hugo Ekitike, and more, to rival clubs.
Having signed only the Swede, Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, the Newcastle fans are hopeful that things will change soon and they’ll get more players.
But things have recently even taken a further turn for the worse, and their star forward, Aleksandar Isak, has also gone on strike, demanding a transfer request to Liverpool.
And that is why Eddie Howe and company have had to start their preparations and pre-season without their star striker and very few new signings.
This has affected their pre-season results as well.
After a convincing victory of 4-0 over Carlisle United (closed doors), who are in the National League, they have gone on to lose their next two preseason games against Celtic, where they lost convincingly by 4-0 this time, and then after, got beat by Arsenal 3-2 at the Singapore National Stadium in Singapore on 27th July.
Jacob Murphy is their highest scorer in this run of pre-season games with 2 goals, having scored both in the closed-door game against Carlisle and also most recently against Arsenal.
They now face the K-League XI in their next pre-season fixture in a hybrid friendly match on 30th July at 12 PM BST in the Suwon World Cup Stadium in South Korea.
The K League XI, also known as the “K League All‑Stars” or “Team K League,” is a representative squad made up of the top performers from South Korea’s domestic K League (K League 1), assembled to face high‑profile international clubs in exhibition matches.
The K-League XI is always decided as a result of public voting, and their team has again been decided this year as per the same norms.
The Fan Eleven, which was selected through a nationwide vote, highlighted standout players in each position.
Among the forwards are Jeon Jin-woo of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, who is the league’s leading scorer with 12 goals in 2025 so far; Lee Dong-gyeong of Gimcheon Sangmu; and Jasir Asani of Gwangju FC.
In midfield, Oberdan of Pohang was named the best creative midfielder, rated among the league’s best, and was also named in the K League Best XI in the 2023–24 season, alongside Kim Jin-gyu of Jeonbuk and Darijan Bojanic of Ulsan.
The backline included Lee Tae-seok (Pohang), Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon), Park Jin-seop (Jeonbuk), and Caio Marcelo (Daegu), with veteran keeper Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan) selected between the posts. Promising youngster Han Hyeon-seo (Pohang) also made the list through the Coupang Play Young Player initiative.
K-League XI’s manager is Kim Pan‑gon, and their assistant manager is Lee Jung‑hyo.
Kim Pan‑gon is 56 years old and a former midfielder at Ulsan Hyundai and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors during the 1990s.
He was appointed as Vice President of the Korea Football Association and head of the coach appointment committee in 2017, heavily influencing national team strategy and infrastructure
Kim took over Ulsan HD FC in July 2024 and guided them to win the 2023–24 K League 1 championship, marking his first top-flight title and extending Ulsan’s championship streak to three in a row.
Under his leadership, Ulsan lost just one league match post-appointment and achieved an 8-win stretch out of 11 games, prompting widespread praise for his leadership and tactical acumen.
Kim, after the fan selection of the squad, supplemented the fan choices to form a full 22‑man squad with tactical flexibility and positional depth.
Here’s the result and the full squad:
Forwards: Bruno Mota (Anyang), Cesinha (Daegu), Jeon Jin‑woo, Jasir Asani, Lee Dong‑gyeong
Midfielders: Kim Dong‑hyun (Gangwon), Kim Jin‑gyu, Luan Dias (Suwon FC), Darijan Bojanic, Oberdan, Lee Chang‑min (Jeju), Hwang Do‑yoon (Seoul)
Defenders: Eo Jeong‑won (Pohang), Kim Young‑gwŏn (Ulsan), Park Jin‑seop, Byun Jun‑soo (Gwangju), Anton Kryvotsyuk (Daejeon), Thomas Oude Kotte (Anyang), Caio Marcelo, Han Hyeon‑seo
Goalkeepers: Kim Kyeong‑min (Gwangju), Jo Hyeon‑woo (Ulsan)
Here one noticeable added name is Bruno Mota of FC Anyang, who has netted 10 goals, making him among the league’s top forwards and match-winner list.
What to expect?
After finishing fifth in the Premier League last campaign with 66 points and 20 wins, Newcastle have had a lackluster start to their preseason.
They scored 68 goals at a metric or rate of 1.79 goals per game and ended with a positive goal differential.
A difference of 21, which showed their efficiency in terms of winning even against bigger sides in the last Premier League campaign.
Heading into this friendly against the K League XI at the Suwon World Cup Stadium, however, Newcastle United find themselves in a somewhat unsettled state.
While they finished the 2023–24 season on a high note, their preseason has been far from convincing.
A promising 4-0 victory behind closed doors against Carlisle offered early optimism, but that momentum has since faded.
The club’s failure to land key transfer targets and the ongoing Alexander Isak saga have created distractions off the pitch, which now appear to be seeping into on-field performances.
This was especially evident in their last outing against Arsenal.
Newcastle started brightly, with Sandro Tonali making a powerful run down the right flank and delivering a pinpoint cross for new signing Anthony Elanga to finish. However, after the 30-minute mark, the anxiety and tension within the squad became palpable.
A misplaced pass by Joe Willock allowed Mikel Merino to intercept, and Kai Havertz capitalized on the error to equalize.
Just minutes later, Alex Murphy unfortunately scored an own goal, diverting Leandro Trossard’s low cross into his own net.
Despite a spirited response, including a 58th-minute goal by Jacob Murphy, the signs of mental fatigue were evident.
A rash, unnecessary challenge on 15-year-old Max Dowman inside the box gifted Arsenal a penalty, which Martin Ødegaard calmly converted, sealing Newcastle’s defeat. These lapses in composure could again prove costly in the upcoming game against the K League XI.
Managed by the experienced Kim Pan-Gon, who recently led Ulsan Hyundai to the K League 1 title with an incredible record, losing just one league match since his appointment, this K League XI is no pushover.
Pan-Gon is a tactician who hates to lose and builds game plans with surgical precision. He is supported by assistant manager Lee Jung-hyo, another progressive coach well respected in Korean football circles.
The K League XI are not short on attacking threat either. Bruno Mota and Jeon Jin-woo, two of the top scorers in the K League this season, bring firepower and flair to the forward line.
If Newcastle continues to give away easy passes in midfield or misplaces balls from the back, Pan-Gon’s side are capable of carving out one or two clear-cut chances. And if they are clinical—especially with the form these forwards are in—they could make Newcastle pay.
On paper, Newcastle should dominate possession and dictate the tempo. Players like Sandro Tonali, Joelinton, and the in-form Jacob Murphy and Anthony Elanga are expected to start.
If Eddie Howe’s men can maintain their structure and put away early chances, they could run away with the match, potentially scoring multiple goals and putting daylight between themselves and the K League XI.
However, if the game remains goalless up to halftime or worse, up to the hour mark, the confidence and belief of the K League XI will only grow.
In such a scenario, a draw becomes a real possibility. Even if Newcastle manage to grab a goal in the final 30 minutes, the K League XI have the quality up front to strike back and potentially force a draw.
For Eddie Howe, this match is more than just a preseason fixture. It’s a chance to restore belief, quiet the transfer noise, and instill stability back into his side. But standing in their way is a motivated, disciplined K League XI with a proven coach and nothing to lose.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Newcastle United head into the clash without Alexander Isak, who has been left out of the travelling squad due to a reported minor thigh injury.
However, speculation continues to swirl around his future, with signs pointing toward a potential exit from Tyneside.
With Callum Wilson having already departed on a free transfer, youngster Will Osula is expected to lead the line once again, having started up front against Arsenal in their previous outing.
Anthony Elanga, who opened his account in the same fixture, is likely to retain his spot on the wing but faces competition from both Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy for the role on the right.
Local favorite Seung-Soo Park, the South Korean winger, could be introduced from the bench in front of a home crowd.
At left-back, Lewis Hall is now fully fit after recovering from a foot injury, leaving Isak as the only major absentee for Eddie Howe.
On the other side, Team K-League are set to field a lineup shaped by fan votes and led by Pohang Steelers duo Lee Tae-seok and Brazilian midfielder Oberdan.
The midfield trio should include Oberdan, Kim Jin-gyu of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, and Ulsan HD’s Darijan Bojanic. In attack, Jeon Jin-woo, Lee Dong-gyeong, and Albanian international Jasir Asani bring a mix of pace and technical threat.
Between the posts, veteran South Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, a standout performer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, will offer leadership and experience for the hosts.
Probable Lineups:
Team K-League XI:
Jo Hyeon-woo (GK); Kim Min-hyeok, Marcelo, Park Jin-seop, Lee Tae-seok; Oberdan, Darijan Bojanic, Kim Jin-gyu; Jasir Asani, Lee Dong-gyeong, Jeon Jin-woo
Newcastle United:
Nick Pope (GK); Emil Krafth, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Matt Targett; Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Lewis Miley; Anthony Elanga, Will Osula, Anthony Gordon
Prediction
Although Newcastle United have had a shaky start to their pre-season, with off-field issues like the Alexander Isak transfer saga clearly affecting performances on the pitch, I expect a strong comeback.
This is what big clubs do: they respond. Despite the noise and uncertainty, a fixture like this offers the perfect opportunity to reset and put in a convincing performance.
Yes, the K League XI have assembled a side featuring some of the best professionals from across the league this season, and their attacking threats, particularly league top scorers Bruno Mota and Jeon Jin-woo, are not to be underestimated.
But Newcastle’s overall squad quality, depth across positions, and experience at a higher competitive level should give them the edge.
I’m predicting a 3-1 win for Newcastle United. The K League XI might get on the scoresheet through one of their attacking stars, but the Premier League side’s superiority should shine through over 90 minutes.
Betting Odds
Newcastle to Win
1/2
Backed by superior squad depth, Newcastle are favourites to secure a comfortable victory.
Both Teams to Score – Yes
1/4
With attacking threats on both sides, especially Bruno Mota and Jeon Jin-woo for the hosts, goals at both ends are expected.
Total Goals Over 1
1/100
Given the firepower in both line-ups, at least two goals in the match feels almost guaranteed.
Anytime Goalscorer – Jacob Murphy (Newcastle)
Murphy looked sharp in the Arsenal game and could find the net again against a less organised K League defence.
Anytime Goalscorer – Jeon Jin-woo (Team K-League)
One of the top scorers in the K League this season, Jin-woo is the hosts’ most likely source of a goal.
Where Can I Watch the Game?
United Kingdom
Newcastle United’s official website and app (NUFCTV) is streaming the match live globally (excluding South Korea) via its Official Pre‑Season Match Pass system.
Price: From £4.99 for a single match; season pass options also available.
Not available on live TV in the UK: no Sky Sports, BBC, ITV, or European sports networks will broadcast it.
United States
Not available on Paramount+, ESPN, CBS, or any major US broadcaster for this friendly match.
The only way to view is via Newcastle United’s official streaming platform, accessible globally via their website or app.
Canada
Not included on FuboTV or Sportsnet, despite Canada holding Premier League rights through FuboTV, pre-season friendlies are excluded.
Only available via Newcastle’s official digital stream, using either an individual match pass or the season option.
Australia
Not broadcast on Optus Sport / Stan Sport, even though they hold Premier League rights, pre-season friendlies are not included in their schedule.
Viewers must use Newcastle United’s Official Match Pass via their website or app to stream the fixture live.
