Shelvey reveals he rejected Newcastle relegation clause to commit for the long haul

Jonjo Shelvey has revealed he rejected a relegation release clause when he signed for Newcastle United in January 2015, choosing instead to commit fully to helping the club return to the Premier League.

The former Liverpool and England midfielder joined Newcastle from Swansea City just days after an altercation with a Swans supporter during an FA Cup defeat to Oxford United. At the time, Newcastle were struggling under Steve McClaren, and Rafa Benitez’s unbeaten run at the end of that season ultimately proved too little, too late to prevent relegation.

“Me and Andros Townsend joined in the January window, and they gave me the option to add a relegation clause in my contract so I could leave,” Shelvey told FourFourTwo. “But I didn’t want that. I was there for the long haul.”

Shelvey described his excitement at completing the move, recalling how he learned the deal had been finalised the night before the Oxford cup tie. “I drove up there and never looked back. I was so excited,” he said.

His sense of obligation to the club was a key factor in declining the exit option. “The club paid a lot of money for me, so I felt it was my responsibility to get them back in the Premier League,” he explained. “It was the right decision, and I really enjoyed my season in the Championship.”

Shelvey made over 200 appearances for Newcastle across eight years, helping them win promotion from the Championship before re-establishing the club in the top flight — the outcome he had envisioned when he first arrived.

“I’d always loved playing at St James’ Park, so I was going there to stay,” he added. “I loved living in Newcastle and we settled there as a family.”