Last Updated on October 1, 2026 by Helena
Matthew “Matty” Longstaff comes from one of the most sporting families associated with Newcastle and England’s North East. Born on March 21, 2000, in Rotherham, England, the midfielder grew up in North Shields as the son of former Great Britain ice-hockey international David Longstaff and accomplished netball player Michelle Longstaff.
Sport also became central to the lives of Matthew’s siblings. His older brother Sean Longstaff became a Premier League footballer after progressing through Newcastle United’s academy, while younger sister Milly showed considerable promise in netball. Matthew and Sean eventually achieved the unusual feat of playing together for Newcastle’s first team. Despite being open about his close family relationships, Matthew has kept his romantic life private, and reliable sources do not currently confirm a girlfriend, wife or children.
Who Is Matthew Longstaff’s Girlfriend?
As of now, Matthew Longstaff has not publicly confirmed the identity of a girlfriend or romantic partner through a reliable interview, official club profile or established media source.
The English midfielder has generally kept his dating life away from public attention. Interviews throughout his career have focused much more heavily on football, his relationship with older brother Sean, his sporting parents and his journey through Newcastle United’s academy.
There is therefore not enough verified information to identify anyone as Matthew Longstaff’s girlfriend.
Social-media photographs or interactions should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of a relationship unless Longstaff himself or a dependable source confirms it.
Is Matthew Longstaff Married?
As of now, there is no reliable public confirmation that Matthew Longstaff is married.
Longstaff has not announced a wife through his clubs or major interviews, and authoritative profiles of his personal life continue to focus primarily on his parents and siblings.
Does Matthew Longstaff Have Children?
As of now, there is no reliable public information confirming that Matthew Longstaff has children.
Official profiles from Newcastle United, Toronto FC and CF Montréal do not identify him as a father, while established interviews about the Longstaff family do not mention a son or daughter belonging to Matthew.
Unless he chooses to make that part of his private life public, claims that Longstaff has children should be treated as unverified.
Who Are Matthew Longstaff’s Parents?
Matthew Longstaff’s parents are David Longstaff and Michelle Longstaff.
Both parents have strong sporting backgrounds. David enjoyed a long career in professional ice hockey and represented Great Britain internationally, while Michelle was an accomplished netball player.
Their children consequently grew up in a household where competitive sport was part of everyday life.
Matthew has said that he and his siblings were brought up with discipline, while reports about the family describe Michelle spending countless evenings and weekends transporting the children to football, netball and cricket practices and competitions.
David Longstaff – Matthew Longstaff’s Father
David Longstaff is Matthew Longstaff’s father and one of the most successful British ice-hockey players of his generation.
David was born in the North East of England and built a professional career that included clubs in Britain as well as periods overseas.
He represented Great Britain extensively and became the first player to reach 100 appearances for the country’s senior ice-hockey national team.
His career meant that Matthew and his siblings grew up with a parent who understood the demands, sacrifices and pressures associated with professional sport.
David Longstaff Played for Great Britain
David’s international career was particularly distinguished.
He represented Great Britain across numerous international tournaments and became an important figure within British ice hockey.
His longevity eventually resulted in the milestone of becoming the first male player to reach 100 Great Britain caps.
David later remained involved in the sport as a coach, including with the Whitley Warriors in the North East.
He was also inducted into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022, further recognizing his contribution to the sport.
David’s Career Took the Longstaff Family to Sweden
David’s ice-hockey career briefly took the family outside England.
The Longstaffs spent approximately a year in Stockholm while David was playing in Sweden.
At another stage of his career, the family considered the possibility of emigrating to Canada because of opportunities available to David in ice hockey.
Ultimately, they chose to remain connected to England’s North East.
That decision proved significant for Matthew and Sean because both brothers subsequently concentrated on football and developed through Newcastle United’s system.
Michelle Longstaff – Matthew Longstaff’s Mother
Michelle Longstaff is Matthew Longstaff’s mother.
Like her husband, Michelle had a strong sporting background. Contemporary profiles of the family describe her as an excellent netball player.
Her influence on the children went beyond her own athletic ability.
The Guardian reported that Michelle devoted many evenings to transporting Matthew, Sean and Milly to their different sporting activities and spent weekends supporting them from the sidelines.
With Sean and Matthew pursuing football and Milly developing in netball, organizing the family’s sporting schedule required a considerable commitment.
Michelle Helped Support Three Sporting Children
Matthew has spoken about the discipline his parents brought to the household.
Although the children were allowed to enjoy themselves, there were expectations regarding behavior, hard work and respect.
That upbringing became visible after Matthew’s spectacular Premier League debut against Manchester United in October 2019.
Despite scoring the winning goal, Matthew made a point of thanking Newcastle manager Steve Bruce for trusting him with a starting place.
Profiles of the family connected that attitude with the values taught by David and Michelle.
Does Matthew Longstaff Have Siblings?
Yes. Matthew Longstaff has two publicly documented siblings: older brother Sean Longstaff and younger sister Milly Longstaff.
All three children displayed sporting ability.
Sean and Matthew became professional footballers, while Milly developed as a talented netball player.
The sporting success of the three siblings led to comparisons with other famous British sporting families.
Sean Longstaff – Matthew Longstaff’s Older Brother
Sean David Longstaff is Matthew’s older brother and the best-known member of the family alongside Matty himself.
Sean was born on October 30, 1997, in Newcastle upon Tyne, approximately two and a half years before Matthew.
Like Matthew, he grew up supporting Newcastle United and progressed through the club’s academy.
Sean reached Newcastle’s senior team first, making his breakthrough before Matthew followed him into the first-team squad.
Sean Helped Inspire Matthew Longstaff
Matthew followed his brother’s progress closely while both were developing within Newcastle United.
When Sean established himself in the senior team during the 2018-19 season, Matthew publicly expressed pride in his brother’s achievement.
He believed Sean deserved the opportunity after years of academy football and loan spells designed to prepare him for the Premier League.
The brothers had previously played together for Newcastle’s development teams, so Sean’s promotion also gave Matthew a clear example of the pathway from the academy to St James’ Park.
Matthew and Sean Played Together for Newcastle United
The brothers eventually shared one of the most memorable moments of their careers on October 6, 2019.
Matthew made his Premier League debut against Manchester United at St James’ Park with Sean alongside him in midfield.
Matty then scored the only goal of the match, striking from outside the penalty area to give Newcastle a 1-0 victory.
The moment was particularly emotional for Sean because he knew how difficult Matthew’s academy journey had been.
Matthew had initially been released by Newcastle as a young player before returning to North Shields Juniors and eventually earning another opportunity with his boyhood club.
Matthew and Sean Say Their Relationship Is Special
The Longstaff brothers have spoken openly about their close relationship.
Sean explained in a joint Guardian interview that having his brother alongside him provided a level of trust that is unusual in professional football.
Matthew similarly described playing next to Sean as making football easier because he understood his brother’s game so well.
The pair also credited their upbringing for helping them remain grounded as their careers developed.
Even after their professional careers eventually took them to different clubs and countries, their shared Newcastle experience remained an unusual achievement for the family.
Where Does Sean Longstaff Play Now?
Sean Longstaff left Newcastle United in 2025 after spending his entire senior career with the club up to that point.
He joined Leeds United and remains part of the Leeds squad for the 2026-27 season, wearing the number eight shirt.
His move means the brothers now play professional football in different countries, with Sean in England and Matthew in Canada.
Milly Longstaff – Matthew Longstaff’s Younger Sister
Matthew also has a younger sister named Milly Longstaff.
Milly grew up in the same highly competitive sporting household as her brothers but pursued netball rather than professional football.
When The Guardian profiled the family in 2019, Milly was 15 years old and was described as an outstanding young netball player.
Her brothers were clearly proud of her development.
Sean joked that after he and Matthew had established themselves in football, it was now Milly’s turn to continue the family’s sporting success.
Milly Followed Her Mother Into Netball
Milly’s sporting choice reflected the background of her mother, Michelle.
While David’s professional career was in ice hockey and his sons concentrated on football, Michelle and Milly shared a connection with netball.
This meant all five members of the immediate Longstaff family had significant sporting involvement.
Reliable public reporting about Milly has remained limited since she was a teenager, and she has not developed the same public profile as her professional-footballer brothers.
Her current personal and professional life should therefore remain private unless she chooses to make further information public herself.
The Longstaff Family Grew Up in North Shields
Although Matthew was born in Rotherham while his father was playing ice hockey away from the North East, he was raised primarily in North Shields, Tyne and Wear.
The area became central to the Longstaff family’s identity.
Both Matthew and Sean supported Newcastle United from childhood and dreamed of eventually playing for the club.
Matthew attended John Spence Community High School and played youth football locally before establishing himself within Newcastle United’s academy.
Sport Dominated Life in the Longstaff Household
The Longstaff family’s weekly routine revolved heavily around sport.
Sean and Matthew played both football and cricket when they were younger, while Milly concentrated on netball.
David’s ice-hockey career added yet another sport to the family environment.
The different schedules meant Michelle frequently spent evenings driving from one training session to another and weekends watching competitions.
For the Longstaff children, competitive sport was therefore not simply an occasional activity but an established part of family life.
Matthew Longstaff Was Initially Rejected by Newcastle
Matthew’s path into professional football was less straightforward than Sean’s.
Newcastle initially released him from its youth system, forcing the young midfielder to return to local football with North Shields Juniors.
Matthew later admitted that the rejection made him angry but also increased his determination to succeed.
Other clubs showed interest, but his loyalty to Newcastle remained strong.
Eventually he earned another opportunity with the club and worked his way through the academy to the senior team.
His Family Supported Him Through the Setback
Matthew’s early rejection from Newcastle could easily have discouraged him from pursuing professional football.
Instead, he continued playing locally and received support from a family already familiar with the realities of elite sport.
Sean later became emotional when discussing Matthew’s successful Premier League debut because he knew how much his younger brother had worked after being released.
The winning goal against Manchester United therefore represented much more to the Longstaff family than a memorable sporting result.
Football Also Runs Through the Wider Longstaff Family
The Longstaff family’s sporting connections extend beyond Matthew’s immediate household.
Former England international and Celtic midfielder Alan Thompson is a relative of the family.
Sources differ in the shorthand description of the relationship, with some football databases describing Thompson as Matthew and Sean’s uncle. More specifically, David Longstaff has been identified as Thompson’s cousin.
Thompson played Premier League football before enjoying a successful spell with Celtic, where he won multiple domestic trophies and represented England at senior international level.
His career gave Matthew and Sean another professional-football example within their extended family while they were growing up.
Matthew Longstaff’s Career Took Him Away From His Family
After breaking into Newcastle’s first team, Matthew’s career became less settled.
He spent loan periods with Aberdeen in Scotland, Mansfield Town and Colchester United as he searched for regular senior football.
A serious knee injury then disrupted his progress and contributed to the end of his time at Newcastle.
Longstaff eventually rebuilt his career by moving considerably farther from his North East family.
Toronto FC signed him in February 2024, beginning his professional career in Major League Soccer.
Matthew Longstaff Moved From England to Canada
Longstaff’s move to Toronto was particularly interesting given that his family had once considered moving to Canada during his father’s ice-hockey career.
Instead, decades later, Matthew became the member of the family who ultimately built a professional sporting career there.
Toronto provided him with regular first-team football after the injuries and uncertainty surrounding his final years in England.
He spent the 2024 season and part of 2025 with Toronto FC before another Canadian club became his next destination.
Matthew Longstaff’s Move to CF Montréal
CF Montréal acquired Matthew Longstaff from Toronto FC on August 13, 2025.
The move sent forward Jules-Anthony Vilsaint in the opposite direction, while Montréal also sent General Allocation Money to Toronto as part of the transaction.
By the time Longstaff left Toronto, he had accumulated 49 MLS regular-season appearances for the club.
Montreal subsequently exercised his contract option for the 2026 season.
As of now, Matthew Longstaff remains a CF Montréal midfielder and wears the number eight shirt.
Matthew Longstaff Keeps His Romantic Life Private
Matthew has been much more willing to discuss his parents and siblings than romantic relationships.
David, Michelle, Sean and Milly have all appeared in established reporting about his upbringing and sporting family.
By contrast, reliable media and official football sources do not currently identify a girlfriend or wife, and there is no dependable confirmation that Matthew has children.
As of now, Matthew Longstaff’s publicly documented immediate family consists of his parents David and Michelle, older brother Sean and younger sister Milly.
The Longstaff family is particularly notable because every member has been closely connected with sport, spanning professional football, international ice hockey and competitive netball.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew Longstaff’s Family
Who is Matthew Longstaff’s girlfriend?
As of now, Matthew Longstaff has not publicly confirmed the identity of a girlfriend through a reliable source.
Is Matthew Longstaff married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Matthew Longstaff is married.
Does Matthew Longstaff have children?
No children have been publicly confirmed for Matthew Longstaff through reliable sources.
Who are Matthew Longstaff’s parents?
Matthew Longstaff’s parents are David Longstaff and Michelle Longstaff.
Who is Matthew Longstaff’s father?
His father is David Longstaff, a former professional ice-hockey player who represented Great Britain more than 100 times and later worked as a coach.
Who is Matthew Longstaff’s mother?
His mother is Michelle Longstaff, an accomplished former netball player who played a major role in transporting and supporting her children throughout their sporting development.
Does Matthew Longstaff have siblings?
Yes. Matthew has an older brother named Sean Longstaff and a younger sister named Milly Longstaff.
Who is Matthew Longstaff’s brother?
His older brother is professional footballer Sean Longstaff. The brothers developed at Newcastle United and famously played together in the club’s Premier League midfield.
Where does Sean Longstaff play now?
Sean Longstaff plays for Leeds United and wears the number eight shirt during the 2026-27 season.
Who is Matthew Longstaff’s sister?
His younger sister is Milly Longstaff. She was a highly regarded young netball player during her teenage years.
Was Matthew Longstaff’s father a footballer?
No. David Longstaff made his professional sporting career in ice hockey and became a Great Britain international.
Did Matthew Longstaff’s mother play sports?
Yes. Michelle Longstaff was an accomplished netball player.
Are Matthew and Sean Longstaff brothers?
Yes. Sean is Matthew’s older brother. Both progressed through Newcastle United and played together for the first team.
Is Alan Thompson related to Matthew Longstaff?
Yes. Former England and Celtic footballer Alan Thompson is part of the Longstaff family. David Longstaff has been identified as Thompson’s cousin, although football databases sometimes describe Thompson more simply as Matthew and Sean’s uncle.
Where was Matthew Longstaff born?
Matthew Longstaff was born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, on March 21, 2000.
Where did Matthew Longstaff grow up?
He grew up primarily in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, in England’s North East.
Where does Matthew Longstaff play now?
Matthew Longstaff plays as a midfielder for CF Montréal in Major League Soccer.
Helena Lena Jessica Da Laila is a football writer covering Spanish women’s football, with a focus on Liga F, tactical trends, and emerging talents shaping the women’s game in Spain.
