Newcastle United secured Lukas Hornicek from Portuguese club Braga on a five-year contract, officially announced on August 3, 2026. The 24-year-old Czech goalkeeper joins the Premier League side for a reported fee of £25.7 million (approx. €30.6 million / $35.26 million) to strengthen Newcastle’s goalkeeping options after last season’s struggles in defence [1, 2, 3].
Hornicek flew to Newcastle's training camp in Spain the weekend before the announcement to finalize the transfer [1]. He expressed enthusiasm about his new club, saying, "The last few days have been an emotional rollercoaster... 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. 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" [1, 2, 3].
Hornicek's career began at Czech club Pardubice, from which he joined Braga on loan in 2019 before making the move permanent. He became Braga’s first-choice goalkeeper in 2025 and played a key role in their run to the Europa League semi-finals in the 2025-26 season. He kept seven clean sheets in that competition, the most by any goalkeeper, showcasing his shot-stopping ability and consistency [2, 3, 1].
Internationally, Hornicek made his senior Czech Republic debut in May 2026. He was selected in the Czech squad for the 2026 World Cup held in North America but did not feature as the team exited at the group stage [2, 3].
Newcastle’s goalkeeping ranks struggled last season, conceding 55 goals and keeping only eight clean sheets in the Premier League, prompting the club to invest heavily in Hornicek to tighten their defence [1].
Hornicek’s signing marks a significant addition to Newcastle’s squad ahead of the new season. The next key event will be the club’s preparation for their opening Premier League match, which will offer the first chance to see Hornicek in action at St James’ Park.
