Newcastle United medical imminent as £18m transfer agreed - another to follow
Newcastle United transfers: Ewen Jaouen is on Tyneside to complete an £18million move to Newcastle from Stade de Reims.
Newcastle United are set to finalise their first major transfer of the summer with Ewen Jaouen set to join.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper has agreed a four-year deal at St James’ Park and will join from Ligue 2 side Stade de Reims for around £18million.
The Gazette understands Jaouen flew to Newcastle on Monday and is set to undergo his medical and finalise the move on Tuesday. A formal announcement will then follow.
Newcastle are also set to launch the new 2026/27 home kit on Wednesday, though details of the goalkeeper kit have been kept quiet.
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Who is Ewen Jaouen?
Jaouen was born in Paris but moved to Brittany with his family at age five. After progressing through the ranks at Guingamp's academy, Jaouen was snapped up by Reims in 2023 before going on to make his senior debut during a loan spell at Rodez in Ligue 2 in 2024, aged 18.
He spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Dunkirk, scoring a crucial penalty in a famous Coupe de France shootout win over Lille.
Last season, he broke into the Reims first-team, starting every game in Ligue 2 as the side secured a 6th place finish. Jaouen has been capped at Under-21s international level by France and has been tipped as a potential starter for Les Bleus in the future.
NUFC goalkeeper situation - another to follow?
Newcastle’s imminent signing of Jaouen comes after they turned down an option to make Ramsdale’s loan from Southampton permanent for £20million this summer. The club also confirmed John Ruddy and Max Thompson would be leaving the club when their contracts expire at the end of the month.
With Odysseas Vlachodimos also set to leave Newcastle after returning from a loan spell at Sevilla, Jaouen may not be the only goalkeeper Newcastle look to sign this summer, with a significant shake-up expected in the department.
Nick Pope will be allowed to leave the club should a suitable offer be made. The Gazette revealed last week that talks had already taken place between Newcastle and Ipswich Town, with a £5million fee discussed.
While Eddie Howe has shown some willingness to change goalkeepers when needed, with Pope and Ramsdale rotating at times last season, the Newcastle head coach is naturally reluctant to do so.
"I'd say you don't necessarily naturally, or in my mind, think about rotating the goalkeeper,” he explained last season. “I think it's a position of consistency."
"Changing a goalkeeper is possible, of course, but it's a big call to make because I think, depending on the style of goalkeeper, a lot changes and defenders in front get used to a style."