Newcastle United have already secured their next long-term project, with Johan Martínez set to join from Independiente del Valle once he turns 18.

The club are investing early in high-upside South American talent, aiming to develop rather than react late in the market. We covered the efforts made in that direction by the club in Brazil.

Martínez is only 16. However, his profile has already travelled far beyond Ecuador. Scouts across Europe have tracked him closely, including clubs such as FC Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen. So Newcastle have moved decisively.

Background and development

Johan Martínez was born in 2009 and has come through one of South America’s most productive academies. Independiente del Valle have built a reputation for producing elite-level players, including Moisés Caicedo, Piero Hincapié and Willian Pacho.

That context matters. Newcastle United are not just signing a talented winger. They are tapping into a development pipeline that has consistently delivered players ready for Europe.

Martínez has already stood out within that system. He played a key role in the club’s U17 side, which won their category title. Within those age groups, he has been viewed as one of the standout attacking talents.

How Johan Martínez...