Newcastle have confirmed Ewen Jaouen has become their first summer signing for an initial £18.5M from Stade de Reims.
The 20-year-old made 34 Ligue 2 appearances last season, keeping 15 clean sheets for Reims who finished 6th in the table.
Advertisement
Advertisement
In what was a very quick move, the 6ft 6in French U21 goalkeeper passed a medical on Tyneside yesterday and the club have since announced he has put pen to paper.
Speaking on the move, Jaouen revealed that he cannot wait to get started at a club how is already proud to be a part of as he aims to settle in quickly with both the club and supporters.
“I’m really excited to become a Newcastle United player. When I visited the training ground, I could see how passionate everyone is about the club and the work they do, and I loved the environment straight away. I also had the chance to see the stadium and it’s huge.
“I’ve heard so much about the supporters and how they are the best in the country. The passion of the entire city and the atmosphere at St James’ Park are famous throughout football, and I can’t wait to experience that for myself and become a true Geordie.
“As a goalkeeper, I enjoy one on one situations and playing as a modern keeper, building from the back and being comfortable with the ball at my feet. Now I want to develop alongside the amazing players and staff here, enjoy my football, and prove my value on the pitch.”
The youngster arrives for a reported £18.65m fee, cut down from the original £24m figure as the club negotiated behind the scenes. However, the Sun report the package could rise to £24M if a number of clauses are met before 2030.
This move also comes as Newcastle opted against making Aaron Ramsdale’s loan move from Southampton a £20M permanent arrangement as they instead invest in a project for the future.
