Johan Martinez: Everything Newcastle fans should know about South American wonderkid
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Football Insider or go back to LFC Live.
Credit: Imago Thu 26 March 2026 10:30, UK Johan Martinez of Independiente del Valle appears set to join Newcastle United ahead of the summer transfer window.The 16-year-old is considered one of South America’s most exciting prospects, with the Magpies now in advanced talks to secure his signature ahead of some big European clubs.It is understood that Bayer Leverkusen are one of the teams that have fallen short to Eddie Howe’s side, who could soon welcome a very talented gem to St James’ Park ahead of 2026-27.Supporters will be expecting some huge names on Newcastle’s transfer list at the end of the season, adding to the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon, but the club are also planning for the future.🚨💣 EXCL | Newcastle are close to signing Johan Martinez from Independiente del Valle, despite strong interest from Leverkusen and other 🇪🇺 clubs.The 16yo is considered one of South America’s most exciting prospects, with talks at an advanced stage ▶️ https://t.co/jweiJ4tROA pic.twitter.com/1k22sISglc— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) March 25, 2026 View Tweet 🔄 Newcastle Transfer Update 🔄 Breaking news on deals in progress, signings, departures, and contract news from the Newcastle United boardroom. VISIT THE NEWCASTLE TRANSFER HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Johan Martinez closes in on move to St James’ ParkAt just 16 years of age, the young talent has already signed his first professional contract, following in the footsteps of some of the sport’s biggest names.Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie, and PSG’s William Pacho were all developed in Valle’s academy, and Martinez could be the next biggest name to come over to Europe.Feared for his rapid pace and effective dribbling, the youngster has popped up on the radar of multiple clubs all across Europe, though it is unlikely that he will be seen in Newcastle’s first team straight away.🇪🇨 Newcastle moving for Ecuador talent Johan Martinez (16) would make sense.#NUFC appointed Thomas Federspiel in December as our new global talent scout for Brazil, Colombia & Ecuador.Independiente del Valle one of the top academies in South America. pic.twitter.com/DHfHtB59Lu— NUFC Blog (@NUFCBlogcouk) March 25, 2026 View Tweet Martinez is fast, direct, and is especially strong in one-versus-one situations, which would perfectly suit the Magpies’ current attack of Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga.Newcastle United’s most talented South AmericansThe names that immediately come to mind are Guimaraes and Joelinton, who both continue to star in Newcastle’s midfield, albeit the former is currently out injured.Miguel Almiron was also a much-loved figure at St James’ Park.
He made over 200 appearances for the club, in which time he notched 30 goals and 12 assists.Fabricio Coloccini also goes down as a cult legend for the Magpies, having made nearly 300 appearances, becoming a long-term captain during his time at the club.Martinez is only being strongly linked with a move to the Premier League right now, so fans won’t get their hopes up too much, but he is certainly an exciting youngster to be in talks with. Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Newcastle Insider Access Get the full story from St James’ Park and Darsley Park with our dedicated expert hubs: Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Tyneside.