Newcastle

Personal terms agreed between club and Martin Dubravka

Published

5 hours ago

January 21, 2025

The Slovakian was expected to join Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab this month having reportedly agreed personal terms. Mail Sport also claims that Dubravka had at one stage begun to remove items from his home and say goodbye to his neighbours.

He also appeared to bid farewell to Newcastle fans following the 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg win at Arsenal. But after the game, head coach Eddie Howe held talks with sporting director Paul Mitchell and that resulted in the Magpies opening discussions with the goalkeeper.

Dubravka has started the last 10 matches in the absence of the injured Nick Pope, winning nine of those as well as keeping six clean sheets and conceding just seven goals.

“I think Martin has been in a difficult situation, like any player that is coming out of contract in the summer,” Howe earlier this month. “Always with any player I’ve worked with, there is always that feeling of doubt. He will naturally want some conclusions in his future, whether that’s a new contract with us or whatever the outcome.

Howe also recently praised Dubravka for the way he has handled the situation surrounding his future.

“I think Martin’s handled himself really well in this period, I think there’s been a lot of noise, but when I look at him he’s exactly the same,” said Howe. “I think he’s got the experience now in his career to be able to handle these moments, maybe as a younger player would have found it much more challenging.

“But he’s kept going really well, and I think he’s been very measured in his approach, he’s never let anything off the field affect his psychology, I think he’s been top draw.”