Newcastle United announced on Monday the contract extension of defender Fabian Schar, ensuring his stay with the team until the end of the 2024/25 season. Schar’s previous contract was set to expire after this season.
The Switzerland international, who recently celebrated his 32nd birthday, has been a pivotal player for the club since his transfer from Deportivo La Coruna in July 2018, mostly through Howe’s tenure at the club after he endured a few struggles under the prior management.
Following a solid performance in Newcastle’s recent 3-0 victory over Sunderland last Saturday, clinching a fourth-round berth in the FA Cup, the club confirmed on Monday that Schar will remain a part of the Tyneside club for at least another year.
It’s fair to say that Schar has experienced a resurgence in his career since the arrival of Howe. Although he never grabbed a stronghold of a regular place in former manager Steve Bruce’s XI, Howe’s run as the manager of NUFC has seen Schar become a crucial component of the Newcastle defense thanks to his all-around skill set.
Howe praised Schar after the announcement of his extension, saying “Since I’ve come to the football club, he’s been a model of consistency and a big part of our success. He’s defended very well but he’s hugely talented with the ball as well, so we’re delighted that he’s extended his time here.”
Schar joined Newcastle for a fee of around £3 million more than five years ago and he’s made 169 appearances for the club.
Reflecting on his tenure with Newcastle, Schar remarked, “Playing for this team where I feel so comfortable with all my team-mates and with the coaching staff feels really like a family for me, so I’m really grateful to stay here a bit longer and hopefully to have some more exciting times.”