Transfer rumour · archive

Joe Willock to Beşiktaş

This move fell through. Last report: Craig Hope, 31 August 2026.

The move for Joe Willock has fallen apart. Beşiktaş had been pushing to land the Newcastle midfielder as their top midfield target, but the deal has collapsed rather than merely stalled. Newcastle's asking price sat around a €20m clause, while the most recent bid on record from Beşiktaş's side was rejected at €12m. That gap between valuation and offer looks to be the reason talks broke down, with Willock still under contract at Newcastle until the summer of 2027. Fabrizio Romano broke the story of Beşiktaş's interest, reporting that a bid had been submitted and that the decision sat with Newcastle. Romano's word carries real weight on continental moves like this one. Craig Hope, a reliable voice on Newcastle affairs specifically, has since weighed in with the latest update confirming where things stand. Two credible names on the story, though the collapse itself has not yet drawn wider corroboration beyond these two. This one now looks a long shot. For it to be revived, Beşiktaş would need to come back with a fee much closer to €20m than the €12m already knocked back, and Newcastle would need a reason to soften their stance on a player under contract for two more years. Nothing in the current reporting suggests that shift is imminent. Willock arrived at Newcastle from Arsenal for €29m, a fee that dwarfs the €20m being discussed here. Newcastle paying that much originally and now holding out for a fraction of it shows just how far Beşiktaş's opening approach fell short of what would tempt a sale. Watch for whether Beşiktaş return with an improved bid before their window shut

Who reported it