Newcastle sign goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from Braga for £25.7m
The 24-year-old international arrives on a five-year deal as the club undergoes a transition following the departure of manager Eddie Howe.
Newcastle United have triggered a €30m (£25.7m) release clause to sign 24-year-old Czech Republic international goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from Braga. The five-year contract marks the fifth arrival of a summer window defined by the departure of long-term manager Eddie Howe.
Hornicek is expected to supplant Nick Pope as the first-choice goalkeeper. According to BeIn Sports, Hornicek led the Portuguese top-flight last season with 51 clearances. He also recorded 45 keeper sweepings—more than all but five goalkeepers in Europe's top 10 leagues—and maintained a 100% success rate in those actions, trailing only Barcelona's Joan Garcia in efficiency.
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The signing follows a strategic priority by Sporting Director Ross Wilson to revamp the goalkeeper department. This began with the acquisition of 20-year-old Ewen Jaouen from Reims for £18.5m, though The Northern Echo reports Jaouen was always viewed as a longer-term prospect. Hornicek emerged as the leading target after interest in James Trafford cooled due to the latter's impending move to Leeds United.
"The last few days have been an emotional rollercoaster from when I first heard about the move, and now I'm so happy to be here. It's a brilliant opportunity in a new league, which I'm very excited about,"
Lukas Hornicek, via BBC
The Czech goalkeeper’s integration has been accelerated by the club's pre-season training camp in Spain. Hornicek completed his medical in La Manga and has already joined his new teammates, a move Ross Wilson noted would benefit the player as he acclimates to the coaching staff. This transition is particularly critical as the club prepares to officially announce Matthias Jaissle as the successor to Eddie Howe, who stepped down last week after five years in charge. Jaissle has already arrived in Spain to oversee the squad.
Despite the investment in the goal, the broader squad is in a state of flux. Yahoo Sports and Sky Sports report a difficult window that has seen Sandro Tonali move to Tottenham for £100m and Anthony Gordon depart for Barcelona for £69.3m. The instability extends to the captaincy, with Bruno Guimaraes reportedly telling the club he wishes to join Premier League champions Arsenal if an acceptable offer is made.
Summer Transfer Movement
| Arrivals | Cost | Departures | Fee/Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bazoumana Toure | £42m | Sandro Tonali | £100m |
| Aladji Bamba | £35.5m | Anthony Gordon | £69.3m |
| Lukas Hornicek | £25.7m | Kieran Trippier | Free |
| Sean Steur | £23m | Max Thompson | Released |
| Ewen Jaouen | £18.5m | John Ruddy | Released |
Hornicek arrives with significant pedigree from his seven years at Braga. In the 2023-24 campaign, he helped the Portuguese side to a fourth-place finish and a Europa League semi-final appearance. He recorded 12 clean sheets in the Primeira Liga and a total of 24 shutouts across all competitions, facing 107 shots on target and saving 74 for a 69.2% save rate.
His arrival was not uncontested; Goal reports that Hull City also triggered his release clause earlier this summer, but the goalkeeper rejected the English side in favor of the move to Tyneside.
He joins a city where 52,000 fans expect a high standard of performance, especially following a 12th-place finish last season.
The first tangible test for Hornicek and the incoming management of Matthias Jaissle will occur on August 23, when Newcastle open their Premier League season at home against Liverpool.
Braga Tenure and Transition
Hornicek's move to Tyneside follows seven years with Braga, where he initially arrived on loan from the Czech club Pardubice in 2019. His progression culminated in a breakthrough season that earned him a call-up to the Czech Republic squad for this summer's FIFA World Cup. During his time in Portugal, he made 88 appearances in all competitions and recorded 37 clean sheets.
The goalkeeper's departure from Portugal was imminent by the end of July; Goal reports he was left out of the matchday squad for a 4-0 victory against Zeleznicar Pancevo on Thursday. This followed the club's decision to trigger his release clause, a move Ross Wilson described as concluding "swiftly" to ensure the player could join the pre-season camp in Spain. According to Sky Sports, this allowed Hornicek to begin integrating with his teammates and coaching staff immediately in La Manga.
While the goalkeeper settles in, the club's leadership remains in a state of transition. The official unveiling of Matthias Jaissle as the new head coach is pending the completion of final paperwork. The club is also monitoring the status of captain Bruno Guimaraes, who has two years remaining on his contract with a club-held option for one additional year. Sky Sports notes that while there has been no official club-to-club contact between Newcastle and Arsenal, the club remains braced for a formal approach.
The next step for the organization is the imminent formal announcement of Jaissle's appointment, which is expected to follow his arrival in Spain to lead the squad.
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