Newcastle United have announced the signing of Czech goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from Portuguese club Braga. The 24-year-old has agreed to a five-year deal after the Magpies activated his 30-million-euro (£25.7 million, $34.6 million) release clause, making him the club’s fifth signing of the summer.
“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,” said Hornicek, who is expected to replace Nick Pope as first-choice goalkeeper. He added, “I know Newcastle is a huge football city, with 52,000 fans at St James’ Park creating an incredible atmosphere and pushing the team every game. I can’t wait to play in front of them.”
Sporting director Ross Wilson praised the arrival, stating that Hornicek has “firmly established himself as one of Europe’s top young goalkeepers.” The signing comes during a turbulent summer for the club, which saw manager Eddie Howe depart last week after five years in charge.
Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League last season and have faced a difficult transfer window. Key departures include Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, while captain Bruno Guimaraes is linked to Arsenal. The team begins their new Premier League campaign at home against Liverpool on August 23.
