Newcastle United has officially announced the signing of Czech Republic international goalkeeper Lukáš Horníček from SC Braga. The 24-year-old has joined the club on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

New Addition to the Squad

Horníček becomes the fifth senior player to join Newcastle this summer, following Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Touré, Sean Steur, and Aladji Bamba. Expressing his excitement about the move, Horníček stated, “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.” He also noted the warm welcome he received upon his arrival, emphasizing the incredible atmosphere created by the 52,000 fans at St. James’ Park.

Impressive Track Record

Newcastle United's Sporting Director, Ross Wilson, praised Horníček's development, calling him “one of Europe’s top young goalkeepers.” He acknowledged the interest from various clubs in Horníček following his successful season, which included a significant role in Braga’s journey to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals. Last season, he helped his team secure a fourth-place finish in the Portuguese league, maintaining 12 clean sheets and conceding only 33 goals.

Horníček's career at Braga began in 2019 when he joined on loan from Pardubice. He impressed enough to secure a permanent deal and became the first-choice goalkeeper in January 2025. He has also represented the Czech Republic at the UEFA Under-21 European Championships and earned his first senior cap earlier this year.

With pre-season training underway in Spain, Horníček's swift integration into the squad is expected to benefit both him and the team as they prepare for the upcoming season.