Newcastle United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers; Premier League
Newcastle United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers. Premier League.
St James' Park, NewcastleAttendance52,145.
Newcastle 1-0 Wolves: Nick Woltemade's debut goal hands Magpies first Premier League win of season
Match report and free match highlights as Newcastle beat Wolves 1-0 at St James' Park; club-record signing Nick Woltemade headed the winner on his Magpies debut; the result hands Eddie Howe's side their first Premier League win of the season; Wolves stay winless and bottom of the table
Sunday 14 September 2025 09:19, UK
Club-record signing Nick Woltemade scored on his Newcastle debut as Eddie Howe's side beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 to register a first Premier League win of the season.
Woltemade - who had hoped to be joined in attack by fellow debutant Yoane Wissa, only for the new signing to miss out with a knee injury picked up on international duty - was bought to replace the outgoing Alexander Isak after the Swede's record-breaking Deadline Day departure to Liverpool.
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And the giant striker wasted little time making an impact in the north east with a brilliant first-half winner that sent St James' Park into delirium.
The giant Germany international powered home Jacob Murphy's lofted cross to the back post past Sam Johnstone, starting in place of the dropped Jose Sa, to increase the pressure on Wolves manager Vitor Pereira.
The visitors, who started strongly, forcing two excellent early stops from Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope, have now lost their opening four games of a league campaign for the first time in their history to remain bottom of the table.
However, there was only one name on everyone's lips at full-time at St James', that of their new 23-year-old forward, who made the home faithful forget all about their former striking hero as Newcastle moved up to ninth in the table.
'Woltemade & Wissa could outscore Isak'
Paul Merson on Soccer Saturday:
"Like he said, he couldn't wish for anything better. Newcastle brought him in with Wissa - the fans will be wondering whether those two can outscore Isak!
"He reminds me of 'Crouchy' - tall, nice touches and good on the ball.
"If I was Eddie Howe I'd be telling him 'get in the box!'"
Woltemade: I didn't know what to do - I was just happy!
Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade to Sky Sports:
"It was a great debut - can't be better. We won, I scored, we did well. It's really important that we won.
"'Murph' told me be ready for the cross and it came to me beautifully.
"I didn't know what to do [after I scored] - I was just happy!"
What the managers said...
Howe: Massive, massive win
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe to Sky Sports:
"Massive, massive win for us. The lads performed very well. Hard-fought, disciplined, we could have scored more - but we'll take the win however it came.
"They put us under pressure in the first five minutes, but after that we got control of the game. A great cross from Murphy and great to see Nick score.
"[Woltemade] is a very good finisher - very clever. He can get a lot of goals with his head too.
"We needed the win. With Barcelona on the horizon you don't get many chances in this league, but we're happy with the three points today."
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira:
"I'm very happy with my team, proud of my players. The way that we faced Newcastle away, full stadium, but I saw my team playing with bravery, tactical organisation, creating problems, strategic problems.
"I just want to finish a game proud of my players, proud of my team and today I'm proud of my team. Today I'm happy.
"Of course worried because we didn't get any points, but this is the way."
Woltemade sooths Isak woes with brilliant Newcastle debut
Analysis by Noah Langford:
Newcastle's summer has been tricky, to say the least. But on Saturday, all was forgotten.
It was out with the old and in with the new on Tyneside as the Nick Woltemade era began with an introduction to remember - his beautiful headed goal proved the difference in a vital win for the Magpies against Wolves.
The £69m striker became the third German in English history to score on debut, alongside Ilkay Gundogan and Jurgen Klinsmann. After a performance like that, he is well on course to have as illustrious a Premier League career as his compatriots.
Standing at six feet and six inches, a headed goal was always going to be on the cards for Woltemade. But his display showed that he's so much more than his size. He was involved in all aspects of the Magpies' attack; he won fouls while dropping deep, held the ball up well, and linked up beautifully with star performer Jacob Murphy throughout the afternoon.
The German has been quick to win the hearts of fans - some of whom are calling him 'Woltemessi' already - and received a richly deserved standing ovation from St. James' Park when he was eventually substituted.
Paul Merson had high praise for the debutant, but urged the Newcastle manager to take advantage of his strengths. "What a header that was! He reminds me of 'Crouchy' - tall, nice touches and good on the ball. But, If I was Eddie Howe, I'd be telling him 'get in the box!'"
Noah Langford
