Newcastle United have agreed a deal to sign Reims goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen for a fee of €28.5 million, the club confirmed. The France U21 international has agreed a four-year contract with the Premier League side and will become the second most expensive French goalkeeper in history, trailing only Lucas Chevalier.
According to L’Equipe, the transfer will see €25 million paid to Reims upfront, with a further €3.5 million potentially due in performance-related bonuses. The Chronicle also reported that the deal has been finalised. The significant fee represents a considerable increase from initial reports which suggested Reims valued the player at around €20 million.
Despite having only made 58 appearances in Ligue 2, Jaouen attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur, reportedly driving up the price. Scouts have praised Jaouen’s profile as being “perfectly” suited to the demands of the English top flight. Standing at 2 meters tall, he is noted for his dominance in the penalty area and strength in defending set-pieces, increasingly vital attributes in the modern Premier League.
Beyond his physical presence, Jaouen is also a modern goalkeeper comfortable participating in build-up play and maintaining composure under pressure, often venturing out of his box to offer a passing option. Last season, he conceded only 0.91 goals per game across all competitions, outperforming his expected conceded goals (xCG) of 0.97. While his reflexes towards the lower corners have been identified as an area for potential improvement, his overall performance has been highly rated.
The substantial investment in Jaouen represents a calculated risk for Newcastle, who are placing considerable faith in a young goalkeeper without top-flight experience. The fee paid is among the highest ever for a goalkeeper, drawing comparisons to Kepa Arrizabalaga’s move to Chelsea, which ultimately failed to live up to its price tag. However, Newcastle will be hoping Jaouen possesses the mental strength to thrive under the expectations that come with the transfer. His arrival provides competition and long-term security in the goalkeeping position for the Magpies.
