Braga make Newcastle claim supporters will absolutely love after £26m transfer confirmed
Newcastle United transfers: SC Braga have delivered a classy message following the sale of Lukas Hornicek.
SC Braga have dubbed Newcastle as ‘the safest city in England’ after the sale of goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek was confirmed.
Newcastle United triggered Hornicek’s £26million release clause at Braga to make the 24-year-old their fifth summer signing.
Hornicek is also the second goalkeeper to join Newcastle this summer after 20-year-old Ewen Jaouen.
The Gazette has launched a WhatsApp NUFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone. Simply click this link to join our NUFC WhatsApp channel.
The Czech international is set to be Newcastle’s new first-choice goalkeeper, subject to Nick Pope leaving the club this summer.
He leaves Braga after establishing himself as a key player at the Portuguese club. He helped them reach the Europa League semi-finals last season and was also part of the Czechia squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Hornicek kept 12 clean sheets in the Portuguese top flight last season, conceding 33 goals in 33 games. He spent seven years at Braga after initially joining from Czech side Pardubice in 2019.
And he leaves Braga with plenty of good faith and well wishes from the Portuguese club, who reacted to Newcastle’s transfer announcement by stating: “From now on, Newcastle it’s the safest city in England.”
Braga also released a classy statement confirming Hornicek’s departure, it read: “During his time with the SC Braga first team, the towering Czech goalkeeper made 88 appearances, displaying the quality that propelled him to one of world football's biggest stages: the Premier League.
“SC Braga wishes Lukas Hornicek the very best, both personally and professionally, in this new chapter of his career. Thank you for everything, Lukas. You will always be one of us.”
Hornicek is not the first Czech goalkeeper to play for Newcastle as he looks to follow the late, great Pavel Srnicek, who became a cult hero during his first spell at the club under Kevin Keegan.