It is telling that Eddie Howe has only brought one former Bournemouth player with him to Newcastle United — Lloyd Kelly.
The defender’s time at St James’ Park was brief and challenging. Kelly made his first start at left-back, but Lewis Hall’s strong form quickly pushed him out of contention. Dan Burn also cemented the left centre-back role, earning an England call-up along the way.
Kelly’s only Premier League appearance in his preferred position came when Burn was suspended. However, he was at fault for West Ham’s opening goal in a 2-0 defeat, and it turned out to be his final top-flight start before his move to Juventus.
His departure left Newcastle short in defence, but the club’s financial constraints under Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) meant they could not recruit a replacement. Instead, the sale provided a valuable financial boost. Having signed Kelly on a free transfer from Bournemouth, Newcastle banked a significant profit that helped strengthen their position ahead of the summer window.
For Kelly, the switch has given him a fresh start in Turin. For Newcastle, it was a pragmatic decision — both to balance the books and to avoid the risk of a PSR breach, something the club narrowly escaped last summer after scrambling to sell Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh.
In the end, Kelly’s short stay was less about his performances and more about Newcastle’s long-term financial planning. At Juventus, however, he now has the chance to prove the qualities Howe once trusted at Bournemouth.
source: bbc
