Paul Mitchell has decided to leave his role as sporting director of Newcastle United, effective Tuesday morning. This news comes two months after he initially alerted the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund about his potential departure from the position.

The exit is described as being by “mutual consent.” In addition, Darren Eales, Newcastle’s chief executive, is also set to depart St James’ Park next month due to a serious health condition.

Head coach Eddie Howe was reportedly informed of Mitchell’s decision shortly before the announcement. Mitchell is expected to remain with the club until the end of June, fulfilling an advisory role before his exit. During this transition period, Howe will have increased influence over transfer decisions, with support from Steve Nickson, the club’s head of recruitment.

At 43 years old, Mitchell previously collaborated with Eales at Tottenham Hotspur back in 2014 and has spent time in the U.S. while serving as the global technical director at Red Bull Soccer International. His appointment last summer marked a reunion with Eales, who is described as a close associate. It is reported that Mitchell had indicated he would stay at Newcastle as long as Eales remained in his position.

Newcastle has narrowed down its list of potential candidates to fill Eales’s role, with a successor expected to be appointed soon.

Mitchell had signed a three-year contract to take over from Dan Ashworth, who controversially moved to Manchester United. However, shortly after Mitchell’s arrival, Eales’s health issues became publicly known, leading to his announcement that he would step down as chief executive.

In September, Mitchell sparked controversy during his first major interview by questioning aspects of Newcastle’s transfer strategy prior to his joining. This statement frustrated Howe, who had been part of the committee responsible for acquiring players like Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimarães.

Despite a rocky beginning to their working relationship, Howe and Mitchell have managed to establish a more collaborative partnership.

During Mitchell’s tenure, Newcastle faced pressures to sell players to adhere to the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Club sources have indicated that Newcastle would have been compelled to sell a key player, such as Isak or Anthony Gordon, for below market value in June if they did not arrange the sale of Miguel Almirón and Lloyd Kelly, which brought in a combined £25 million.

Concerns over PSR limited Newcastle’s competitiveness in the transfer market during Mitchell’s time, as evidenced by their inability to secure a deal for England defender Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace, who sought a fee exceeding £65 million.

Mitchell expressed a desire to bring in more international talent, achieving success with the acquisition of 18-year-old Malaga winger Antonio Cordero.

One significant appointment made by Mitchell was James Bunce as performance director. Bunce has played a pivotal role in reducing injury days for first-team players and will continue in his capacity.

In his farewell, Mitchell remarked, “I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone at Newcastle United for their support over the past year, including Eddie Howe, the players, the staff, the owners, and the fans.” He added, “I am leaving at a time that is right for both myself and the club, especially with Darren Eales — someone I have worked so closely with in my career — moving on soon. The club is well-positioned for continued growth both on and off the pitch.”