Newcastle United have completed the signing of goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from Braga for £25.7 million, with the 24-year-old putting pen to paper on a five-year contract after the club activated his release clause. The transfer fee of €30 million makes him the third most expensive Czech footballer in history.
Hornicek, a Pardubice youth product who moved to Braga at 17, kept seven clean sheets during Braga's Europa League semi-final run last season, the most of any goalkeeper in the competition. His arrival addresses a defensive frailty at Newcastle, who conceded 55 goals and kept only eight clean sheets in the Premier League last campaign. He is the club's fifth summer signing and the first major acquisition under incoming head coach Matthias Jaissle, whose formal appointment is expected shortly.
Newcastle meanwhile remain braced for a formal approach from Arsenal for captain Bruno Guimaraes.