Newcastle's new No.1, Hornicek, started all but one league match for Braga last season to help them secure a fourth-place finish. He recorded 24 clean sheets across all competitions last term, showcasing his impressive goalkeeping skills.
Hornicek's ability to sweep behind the ball is particularly noteworthy, with him boasting the second-best 100 per cent success rate at sweeping behind Barcelona's Joan Garcia (52). His exceptional physical attributes, including his height and agility, make him a valuable asset to any team.
The 6ft 6in shot-stopper even saved three of the 10 penalties he faced, including one from Morgan Gibbs-White in a 1-0 defeat for Nottingham Forest. His impressive form has earned him a spot in Czechia's World Cup finals squad this summer, where he was an unused substitute for all three of their Group A fixtures.
Hornicek's rapid rise to the top comes as little surprise to those at his former club, FK Pardubice. Ladislav Matras, the head coach of the regional football academy at the club, first started working with Hornicek when he was in the Under-12s through to Under-15 level. Matras praised Hornicek's exceptional skills, saying, "He really was exceptional, both as a footballer and as a person. I never heard anyone say a negative word about him."
Hornicek will reunite with Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres in the Premier League when Newcastle face Arsenal. He is the first Czech goalkeeper to play for Newcastle since Pavel Srníček.