Newcastle United have completed the signing of Czech goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from Braga, with the 24-year-old penning a five-year contract at St James' Park. The Magpies activated his £25.7 million release clause, and he has already linked up with his new team-mates at their warm-weather training camp in La Manga, Spain.
Hornicek will be available for Saturday's trip to Valencia, and there is considerable intrigue about what he will bring to the squad. His journey from Czechia to Portugal as a teenager, and his rapid rise at Braga, caught the attention of Newcastle's recruitment team.
Early Promise at Pardubice
Hornicek's football education began in the academy of FK Pardubice in 2009, where he quickly made a name for himself. Miroslav Jirka, the club's current head youth coach, returned to Pardubice in 2013 and immediately heard about the talented goalkeeper.
"Lukas was very talented and hardworking," Jirka told Chronicle Live. "At that time, we only focused on goalkeepers in individual development at the club and that was his advantage. Over time, he jumped categories and always built the position of No 1 goalkeeper in the team."
His former coach, Miroslav Stichauer, now under-19 coach at Pardubice, recalled that Hornicek was not only an excellent goalkeeper but also a very good field player. In the U13 category, he would often spend half the match in goal and the other half as a striker, regularly scoring goals even in competitive league matches.
Ball-Playing Ability and Statistics
Newcastle wanted a goalkeeper who is just as adept with the ball at his feet as he is at keeping the ball out of the net. Hornicek's education at Pardubice illustrates this ability, and his statistics as a sweeper-keeper are impressive. Opta revealed that only five goalkeepers in Europe's top 10 leagues recorded more keeper sweepings than him last season (45), while he had the second-best 100% success rate at sweeping behind Barcelona's Joan Garcia.
"I love the most when I make a save and hear the fans say 'wow' and I get appreciated for the save," Hornicek told Newcastle's club website. "Also it is satisfying when you can have a pass between the lines and the game just moves on faster."
Move to Braga and Breakthrough
Hornicek represented the Czech Republic at the 2019 European under-17 championships in Ireland, which led to interest from Braga. After an initial loan in 2019, the move was made permanent in 2020, in what was the largest sale in Pardubice's history. Having not played a senior game in his native Czechia, he was branching out to try to make it in a new country.
"When I was young I am not sure I fully understood how big of a change that would be and how much it would change my life but in that time I was so happy," he explained.
His breakthrough came in the 2024/25 season when an injury to the Braga No 1 gave him his chance. He quickly earned the trust of head coach Carlos Carvalhal and ended the season as first choice. He impressed at the under-21 European Championships last summer and continued to excel under new coach Carlos Vicens.
After a particularly impressive performance against Nottingham Forest in the Europa League, where he saved a penalty from Morgan Gibbs-White, he put himself on the radar of English clubs. "Lukas Hornicek completed another great match, with impactful actions on the pitch," Vicens said after that game.
Comparisons and Czech Excitement
Regular football saw Hornicek reach new heights, making 48 appearances across all competitions last season and helping Braga reach the semi-finals of the Europa League. DataMB's player similarity generator suggests he has a similar profile to Barcelona's Garcia, Liverpool's Alisson, and Sunderland's Robin Roefs. But back in the Czech Republic, it is Chelsea legend Petr Cech that is the most eye-catching comparison.
Hornicek's move to Newcastle is the third most expensive transfer in Czech history, behind Patrik Schick and Pavel Nedved. It also draws an obvious comparison to Pavel Srnicek, who shone for Newcastle across two spells.
"People are excited about it, it is a big deal and a big transfer," Tonda Srajer, founder of the Czech footballers abroad website, told Chronicle Live. "He waited a long time for a regular chance in the Braga A-team, but in the end, it paid off and today he is a Premier League player, which is a wonderful story."
His former coaches are proud of his achievements. "We are a small club that is proud of every player we raise for a European club," Jirka added. "The fact that Lukas is going to England is a great calling card for us. We are extremely proud of Lukas and we wish him great success in his career."
