Newcastle United have completed the signing of Czech Republic goalkeeper Lukáš Horníček from Braga, activating the 24-year-old's release clause in a deal worth £25.7m (around €30m). Horníček has signed a five-year contract and becomes Newcastle's fifth summer signing, following the earlier arrivals of Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Touré, Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba. He travelled to join the squad's pre-season training camp in Spain to complete the move.
Newcastle moved quickly once it was clear Horníček could be prised out of Braga. Sporting director Ross Wilson said the club were "delighted to welcome Lukas," calling him one of Europe's top young goalkeepers who has made "remarkable progress in recent years." His shot-stopping and comfort with the ball at his feet were the main draws, with Newcastle keen to add a goalkeeper who can start attacks as well as stop them.
For Braga, it's a significant loss. Horníček was first choice throughout their run to the Europa League semi-finals last season, the club's best European campaign in years, and kept seven clean sheets along the way — more than any other goalkeeper in the competition. In the Primeira Liga he helped Braga to a fourth-place finish, keeping 12 clean sheets in 34 league matches as they conceded just 33 goals all season.
His numbers with the ball at his feet stood out too: Horníček ranked second among all Primeira Liga goalkeepers for successful passes and fourth for passing accuracy last season, attributes that made him a natural fit for a Newcastle side built to play out under pressure. He has also progressed at international level, winning his first senior Czech Republic cap in May before featuring for his country at this summer's World Cup.
He arrives at a club in transition. The deal was pushed through in the days after Eddie Howe's departure from Newcastle, with Matthias Jaissle set to take over as head coach. Horníček is expected to walk straight into the number one shirt, with long-serving England international Nick Pope, 34, now expected to leave St James' Park after four years, having attracted interest from elsewhere this summer.
Horníček said he was "so happy" to join Newcastle, describing it as "a brilliant opportunity in a new league," and pointed to the atmosphere at the 52,000-capacity St James' Park as one of the reasons he was excited about the move. At 24, with a big European run and a growing international career already behind him, he arrives with the profile of a long-term first-choice rather than a stopgap.