---
title: "Newcastle fans aren’t happy with Shelvey and Ritchie’s new deals"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2020/02/18/newcastle-fans-arent-happy-with-shelvey-and-ritchies-new-deals/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Elliott Cuff"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2020-02-18T12:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-02-18T12:00:00Z"
---

# Newcastle fans aren’t happy with Shelvey and Ritchie’s new deals

Several Newcastle fans can’t understand the logic behind the club agreeing contract extensions with midfield duo Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie.

[The Shields Gazette reported](https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/newcastle-united-hand-new-deals-two-senior-players-1742143) on Sunday that Newcastle had agreed to extend the contract of both Shelvey and Ritchie, both of whom will see their current deal expire in 2021.

Shelvey, who signed for Newcastle from Swansea in January 2016, has been in and out of the squad this season, making just [15 Premier League appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jonjo-shelvey/leistungsdaten/spieler/71292) due to a spate of short-term injuries, scoring five times in the process.

Ritchie, who joined the Magpies six months after Shelvey, has missed even more games this season, with a serious ankle injury restricting the Scotland international to just [seven Premier League appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-ritchie/leistungsdaten/spieler/92469).

Responding to news of the soon to be announced contract extensions handed to the duo, a number of Newcastle fans have questioned the club’s decision making, particularly given that Matty Longstaff’s contract is still set to [expire](https://www.themag.co.uk/2020/02/newcastle-united-contracts-shambles-only-these-two-possible-explanations/) in the summer.

> Twitter: @NUFC360 Ritchie is 30 and we’ve given him a new contract? But we can’t do a deal for Longstaff?
>
> Make it make sense… (@agbnufc)

> Twitter: @NUFC360 Wouldn’t give either of them extensions (@wales\_shaun)

> Twitter: @NUFC360 Why? ??‍♂️ both would struggle to make our first 11 when everyone is fit (@Marklights\_23)

> Twitter: @NUFC360 Why? Sign the Longstaffs and improve on these two. This club makes no sense (@WichitaJStraw)

> Twitter: @NUFC360 I’d rather have extended longstaff, fernandez and manquillo. (@Andrew210692)

> Twitter: @NUFC360 Club aiming for mediocrity confirmed, yet again.. (@jarisal9)