Newcastle United Signs Czech Goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek for €30.578m
Newcastle United have moved decisively in the market, sealing the signing of highly rated goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from SC Braga in a deal worth €30.578 million.
The 22-year-old Czech international has signed a five-year contract running until June 2031, underlining the club’s long-term faith in a player they believe can grow with the project on Tyneside.
Hornicek was unveiled this morning as the Magpies’ latest arrival and spoke openly about the whirlwind nature of the move. He described the last few days as “an emotional rollercoaster” from the moment he first heard of Newcastle’s interest, before stressing just how “happy” he is to have completed the switch and how “excited” he feels about the challenge of a new league.
The welcome at Newcastle clearly struck a chord. Hornicek said he felt the warmth of the club immediately, praising the way staff and teammates have helped him settle and calling the reception “fantastic”. For a goalkeeper stepping into one of the most intense football environments in England, that sense of belonging matters.
He already knows what awaits him at St. James’ Park. Hornicek highlighted Newcastle’s status as a “huge football city” and spoke with obvious anticipation about playing in front of 52,000 supporters generating what he called an “incredible atmosphere” and driving the team on every game. “I can’t wait to play in front of them,” he said, setting out his ambitions in simple, direct terms.
This move caps a rapid rise for a player who has been on a steep upward curve since leaving his homeland. Hornicek joined SC Braga from FK Pardubice’s youth system ahead of the 2019/20 season, arriving in Portugal as a teenager and working his way through multiple levels of the club’s academy.
He did not linger in the shadows for long. By the 2021/22 campaign he had broken into Braga’s first team, and from that point he established himself as a key figure at the Minho club. Across all competitions he made 88 appearances, a significant tally that reflects both trust from the coaching staff and his consistency in a demanding league.
Now comes the next step. A major fee, a long contract, and a fanbase that expects its players to match the noise pouring down from the stands. Hornicek wanted a “brilliant opportunity in a new league.” Newcastle have just handed him one of the biggest stages in Europe to prove he is ready for it.
