Newcastle sign Braga keeper Hornicek for £25.7m

Newcastle United have signed goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from Braga for £25.7 million.

Although Newcastle had already brought in 20-year-old Ewen Jaouen from Reims this summer, the club had also been in the market for a more established number one.

Hornicek, 24, flew out to Newcastle's training camp in Spain at the weekend to finalise his move and sign a five-year contract after the club activated his release clause.

"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," the Czech Republic international said.

"It's a brilliant opportunity in a new league, which I'm very excited about. From the very first moment I arrived here, I received a fantastic welcome and really felt the warmth of the club. Everyone has been brilliant in helping me settle in.

"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."

Newcastle had tracked Hornicek's progress as he kept seven clean sheets during Braga's run to the Europa League semi-finals last season, which was the most of any goalkeeper in the competition.

As well as attempting to keep the ball out of the net, Opta data revealed Hornicek ranked second for successful passes (846) and fourth for passing accuracy (75%) of goalkeepers in Portugal's top-flight last season.

Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson said the 24-year-old's "progress in recent years has been remarkable".

"He has firmly established himself as one of Europe's top young goalkeepers," Wilson said.

"We knew there would be no shortage of clubs interested in acquiring Lukas this summer after everything he achieved last season, but it quickly became evident how keen he was to be a part of what we are building here."
A rebuild was always on the cards on Tyneside this summer, not least in the goalkeeping department.

Leaky Newcastle kept just eight clean sheets in the Premier League last season and conceded 55 goals, 15th overall with only relegated Burnley, West Ham and Wolves plus Leeds and Tottenham below them.

Newcastle's outfield players clearly did not offer enough protection, but goalkeeper Nick Pope made a handful of significant errors leading to goals while Aaron Ramsdale never fully convinced during his loan spell and has since returned to Southampton.

A new number one was therefore a priority and Newcastle have once again looked to the continent.

The club have mainly targeted players aged 20 and under from abroad, having already recruited Jaouen, Sean Steur, Bazoumana Toure and Aladji Bamba, so Hornicek will feel like something of an elder statesman in comparison.

But the Czech only made his breakthrough as a regular starter at Braga 18 months ago and will not have much time to prepare for the physicality of the Premier League.

Hornicek's stature will certainly help - he's 6ft 6in tall - and his ability to play out from the back will give this side something different as a new cycle begins under head coach Mattias Jaissle, whose appointment will soon be formally announced.

-BBC