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‘I knew nothing’ – Newcastle sold record signing to Premier League rivals in NBA-style transfer
Andy Cole’s controversial Newcastle exit was as much of a shock to him as it was to fans. Supporters publicly confronted then manager Kevin Keegan at St. James’ Park after the sale was announced. Cole revealed he ‘knew nothing’ about his move to Manchester UnitedGetty The striker left Newcastle for the Red Devils for a then British-record fee in 1995Getty Cole completed a then British-record £6million move to Manchester United in January 1995. The transfer also saw midfielder Keith Gillespie go the other way as he joined Newcastle from the Red Devils. It came less than two years after the striker had joined the Magpies for their own record fee. He was signed from Bristol City in a deal worth £1.75million in March 1993. Cole went on to score 68 goals in 84 appearances for the club, winning the Premier League golden boot in his only full season. However, his stunning form ultimately saw United swoop for his signature midway through the 1994/95 campaign. The transfer caught Cole off-guard, which he revealed to talkSPORT in 2021. Recalling how his move came about, he explained: “I knew absolutely nothing about the deal. “To be fair, Newcastle has just played in the FA Cup on the Sunday against Blackburn – we drew 1-1 at St. James’. Monday morning, I went in for my warm down, everything seemed fine. “I went home, chilled for the afternoon, sat down in the evening just about to watch Sheffield United vs Manchester United in the FA Cup and I got a phone call from my agent saying he’s coming up from Manchester to come and collect me, the deal’s on for me to move to Man United. I was like, ‘What do you mean?’. GettyCole had won the Premier League golden boot in his only full season at Newcastle[/caption] View Tweet: https://twitter.com/hashtag/MUFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw “He goes, ‘Yeah, the deal has been agreed. £6 million and Keith Gillespie is going to Newcastle’. I thought, ‘No, that can’t be right’. “I put the phone down and he phoned me straight back. He said, ‘I’m not messing about, the deal’s on, it’s been done. “‘Pack yourself an overnight bag and you’ll be at Old Trafford first thing in the morning’. “It reminded me a bit of the NBA and getting traded. You don’t find out, you get a letter in your locker, and you’ve got no say in it. “I always said for me, personally, if I was ever to leave Newcastle, I only wanted to go to Man United. “Man United were a team I always wanted to play for, so when the opportunity did come around, it wasn’t for me to turn it down. “I’ve always said, once a manager makes his mind up, you’ve got to move on.” Despite the manner of his arrival, Cole did not look back after arriving at Old Trafford. He went on to score 121 goals in 275 appearances across seven years with the club. During that time, Cole also won 10 trophies including five Premier League titles and the treble in 1999. Current club record signing Alexander Isak has been linked with a similar departure this summer. The Swedish forward signed from Real Sociedad in 2022 for around £60million. GettyCurrent club-record signing Isak’s future is currently the subject of speculation[/caption] Liverpool had made a shock approach for Isak earlier this summer before turning their attention to Newcastle target Hugo Ekitike. The Frenchman is set to complete a move to Anfield after a deal was agreed with Eintracht Frankfurt. Meanwhile, Isak is demanding £300,000-a-week to pen a new contract at St. James’ Park following the transfer interest. The 25-year-old currently has three years remaining on his contract on Tyneside.
Andy Cole’s controversial Newcastle exit was as much of a shock to him as it was to fans.
Supporters publicly confronted then manager Kevin Keegan at St. James’ Park after the sale was announced.
Cole completed a then British-record £6million move to Manchester United in January 1995.
The transfer also saw midfielder Keith Gillespie go the other way as he joined Newcastle from the Red Devils.
It came less than two years after the striker had joined the Magpies for their own record fee.
He was signed from Bristol City in a deal worth £1.75million in March 1993.
Cole went on to score 68 goals in 84 appearances for the club, winning the Premier League golden boot in his only full season.
However, his stunning form ultimately saw United swoop for his signature midway through the 1994/95 campaign.
The transfer caught Cole off-guard, which he revealed to talkSPORT in 2021.
Recalling how his move came about, he explained: “I knew absolutely nothing about the deal.
“To be fair, Newcastle has just played in the FA Cup on the Sunday against Blackburn – we drew 1-1 at St. James’. Monday morning, I went in for my warm down, everything seemed fine.
“I went home, chilled for the afternoon, sat down in the evening just about to watch Sheffield United vs Manchester United in the FA Cup and I got a phone call from my agent saying he’s coming up from Manchester to come and collect me, the deal’s on for me to move to Man United. I was like, ‘What do you mean?’.
“He goes, ‘Yeah, the deal has been agreed. £6 million and Keith Gillespie is going to Newcastle’. I thought, ‘No, that can’t be right’.
“I put the phone down and he phoned me straight back. He said, ‘I’m not messing about, the deal’s on, it’s been done.
“‘Pack yourself an overnight bag and you’ll be at Old Trafford first thing in the morning’.
“It reminded me a bit of the NBA and getting traded. You don’t find out, you get a letter in your locker, and you’ve got no say in it.
“I always said for me, personally, if I was ever to leave Newcastle, I only wanted to go to Man United.
“Man United were a team I always wanted to play for, so when the opportunity did come around, it wasn’t for me to turn it down.
“I’ve always said, once a manager makes his mind up, you’ve got to move on.”
Despite the manner of his arrival, Cole did not look back after arriving at Old Trafford.
He went on to score 121 goals in 275 appearances across seven years with the club.
During that time, Cole also won 10 trophies including five Premier League titles and the treble in 1999.
Current club record signing Alexander Isak has been linked with a similar departure this summer.
The Swedish forward signed from Real Sociedad in 2022 for around £60million.
Liverpool had made a shock approach for Isak earlier this summer before turning their attention to Newcastle target Hugo Ekitike.
The Frenchman is set to complete a move to Anfield after a deal was agreed with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Meanwhile, Isak is demanding £300,000-a-week to pen a new contract at St. James’ Park following the transfer interest.
The 25-year-old currently has three years remaining on his contract on Tyneside.
