Mansion Sports – Newcastle United have won the race to sign talented goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen after agreeing a €28.5 million transfer package with Stade de Reims.

The 20-year-old, who had previously attracted interest from Chelsea and Real Madrid, has reportedly signed a four-year contract and will join Eddie Howe’s side this summer.

Newcastle Win the Race for the Talented Young French Goalkeeper

Newcastle have reached an agreement with Stade de Reims to sign goalkeeper Jaouen in a €28.5 million transfer, according to Canal+.

The 20-year-old has reportedly signed a four-year contract and will complete his move to St James’ Park during the summer transfer window.

The transfer represents a major success for Newcastle’s recruitment department given the intense competition for the signature of the young France international.

Jaouen had previously visited Chelsea’s training facilities to discuss a potential transfer, while Real Madrid viewed him as a long-term successor to Thibaut Courtois.

Planning for Nick Pope’s Successor

The move for Jaouen comes as Newcastle begin planning for the future of their goalkeeping department.

Current first-choice goalkeeper Pope celebrated his 34th birthday in April, and although he remains a key part of Eddie Howe’s plans, the club are eager to bring in a younger alternative to develop under his guidance.

The Tyneside club recently decided not to activate the permanent option in Aaron Ramsdale’s loan spell from Southampton, creating a vacancy in the squad that they hope Jaouen can fill.

By signing the former Guingamp player, Newcastle have secured a goalkeeper who possesses extensive senior-level experience despite his young age.

Rising Through the Ranks in France

Jaouen’s value increased significantly during the 2024-25 season when he joined USL Dunkerque on loan.

During his time in northern France, he played a crucial role in helping the club reach the Coupe de France semi-finals and became a key figure in their promotion push from Ligue 2, which they ultimately missed by the narrowest of margins.

After returning to his parent club, Reims, he was immediately entrusted with a starting role following the club’s relegation from the top tier of French football.

Although Reims ultimately failed to secure immediate promotion back to Ligue 1 this season, Jaouen’s individual performances as the first-choice goalkeeper remained one of the campaign’s major highlights, further strengthening his reputation as a future international prospect.

A New Challenge in the Premier League

Once all final details of the transfer are completed, Jaouen is expected to begin pre-season preparations with Newcastle ahead of his first season in England.

The challenge for the young goalkeeper will be adapting to Premier League football while competing for playing time in a squad that still relies on Pope’s experience.

Meanwhile, Newcastle hope that their latest investment can develop into a long-term solution between the posts.