[3] On 25 January 2013, Haïdara signed for English club Newcastle United of the Premier League for an undisclosed fee (reportedly £2 million) to become Newcastle's ninth first-team player with French nationality and fourth of five French players signed in the January 2013 transfer window.

A few minutes later, he was stretchered off as a result of a knee-high tackle on him by Callum McManaman and taken to hospital;[5] and returned to first-team action on 11 April against Benfica.

[6] Referee Mark Halsey did not see the incident, so McManaman received no card, and because one of his assistants did see it, albeit not clearly, the Football Association were unable to act.

At the end of the season, their rules were changed to permit retrospective action "when match officials are not in a position to fully assess a 'coming together' of players.

[16] Expected at 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, he injured himself in the morning of the announcement of the list of players selected for the competition by coach Eric Chelle and was therefore absent from it.