Moors beat the transfer deadline on Monday evening to sign talented young midfielder James Huntley on loan from Premier League outfit Newcastle United.

The 20-year-old starlet has agreed a deal which will see him remain on loan at The Brewery Field until the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign.

Born in Ashington, Huntley’s ability was spotted very early, and he has been on the books at Newcastle since he was just eight years old.

Having come all the way up through the ranks of The Magpies’ Academy, the youngster put pen to paper on a first professional contract in the summer of 2022.

Primarily a central midfielder but comfortable in a number of positions, Huntley has become a regular in Newcastle’s Under-21s and scored the golden goal in Main Shield Final of the Hong Kong Soccer Sevens competition in 2023.

In November 2023 he was called up to the senior squad for the first time during the Champions League trip to face Paris Saint-Germain for which he was named on the bench.

“James is a player who has been on our radar for a little while, and we’re impressed with what we’ve seen from him,” explained Moors boss Graeme Lee.

“He has great pedigree having come all the way through the ranks at Newcastle and he’s a player who can have an impact in a number of positions.

“Obviously, we have been keen to try and strengthen in the midfield area since the departure of Isaac Fletcher and James is someone who fits the bill in that regard.

“It shows what kind of character he is that he’s with a Premier League team, but he wants to come out on loan to us and play games, so we’re excited to have him on board and looking forward to working with him.”

Huntley will now go into contention to make his Moors debut in this Saturday’s National League North trip to face Hereford at Edgar Street.