Newcastle United have agreed a deal with Barnsley for promising young defender Josh Kenchington, while beating off competition from rivals.

According to Keith Downie, Newcastle United have secured the signing of teenage sensation Josh Kenchington from Barnsley, agreeing to pay an initial £350,000 plus significant add-ons for the highly rated defender. The transfer was finalised after the Magpies’ improved second bid was accepted, following an opening offer of £275,000 that Barnsley turned down earlier this month.

Kenchington, who is just 15, has been widely regarded as one of the most exciting defensive prospects in England. Already over six feet tall, the two-footed centre-back has been playing above his age group for several years and made headlines for competing in under-18 football when he was only 14.

The teenager has drawn comparisons to England international John Stones — not least because of his composed style on the ball, but also due to his Yorkshire roots and assured reading of the game. Scouts have described him as a modern centre-half with confidence in possession and an understanding of defensive organisation beyond his years.

Newcastle’s academy recruitment team moved swiftly to fend off strong competition from Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Brighton & Hove Albion, all of whom had monitored Kenchington’s progress closely. The Magpies will pay £350,000 plus significant add-ons after Barnsley rejected their earlier offer worth a reported £275,000.

Kenchington will complete his move upon approval of the Premier League’s family relocation checks. Once cleared, he is expected to enrol at a local school in Newcastle while continuing his development with the club’s academy set-up at Little Benton.

Josh Kenchington compared to John Stones

The young Barnsley defender is already being compared to the formidable John Stones. The experienced Manchester City defender has qualities that resonate with the English defensive prodigy, which does make the deal from Newcastle United all the more promising.

Overall, the Magpies may have found a gem of a defender for their future teams, as Kenchington’s development into a top-notch professional will be to realise his potential. The fact that teams like Manchester United and Spurs were in the mix says a lot of things about how highly rated the English defensive prodigy is within the Premier League circles.