Newcastle United completed the signing of goalkeeper Lukáš Horníček by paying a premium over his contractual release clause. The club spent €30.57 million, which was €570,000 above the €30 million clause, to secure the 16-year-old from Sporting Braga on 3 August.
Braga president António Salvador confirmed the fee structure at the Portugal Football Summit. He explained that Newcastle negotiated directly with the Portuguese club rather than simply triggering the clause. This approach allowed for a payment plan to be agreed, with the Premier League side paying an extra £500,000 to facilitate the deal.
Player profile and impact
Horníček, a Czech Republic international, joined Braga from FK Pardubice and became their first-choice keeper in the 2024/25 season. He has started his Newcastle career with two clean sheets in his first six Premier League appearances, making several important saves. His arrival bolsters a squad sitting ninth in the table with eight points from five games.
The move came shortly after Newcastle's 2-1 victory over Hull City, a club Horníček reportedly turned down despite them meeting his release clause price. He chose St James' Park for the chance to compete in England's top flight.
With the next match away to 18th-placed Coventry City on 12 October, Horníček is expected to continue as part of the side aiming to close a seven-point gap to the league leaders. The club's recent form shows three wins from their last five outings. Fans can track the team's progress in the standings as the season develops.
The original report is at The Mag
