Who is Tomás Amaral? The career and signings behind NUFC’s new recruitment chief

Newcastle United has appointed Tomás Amaral as their new Head of First Team Recruitment, where he will report directly to Ross Wilson. The 35-year-old Portuguese specialist previously served four-and-a-half years as a senior scout at Benfica before a stint as sporting director at Spartak Moscow. Amaral will oversee Newcastle's first-team scouting network and build key market relationships.

During his time at Benfica, Amaral contributed to the recruitment of high-profile signings including Enzo Fernández and Darwin Núñez, alongside established figures such as Fredrik Aursnes. Writer Phil Huggan highlights Amaral's track record of identifying varied talent across diverse leagues, suggesting his experience will help Newcastle secure prime talent before transfer fees rise out of reach.