Eddie Howe and Ross Wilson react to Ewen Jaouen's £18m move to Newcastle

Ewen Jaouen has become Newcastle United's first signing of the summer following an £18m move from Stade de Reims.

Newcastle acted quickly to sign the 20-year-old goalkeeper from the Ligue 2 side as interest in the young stopper was growing.

Heavily tipped to be a future France international No. 1, it looks like Newcastle have signed a bright prospect for the future.

It's not expected that Ewen Jaouen will be plunged straight into the starting lineup, with another goalkeeper signing expected before the start of the season, but given the hype around him, he doesn't seem like a bad option to have if we don't manage to sign anyone else.

Eddie Howe excited by Ewen Jaouen's arrival 

Eddie Howe told the official website that Jaouen's abilities belie his age, but he still feels there's plenty of room for growth.

“Ewen is a great addition and I am delighted to welcome him to Newcastle United.

“He is an exciting young goalkeeper who has shown real promise during his time in France. 

"He has a calmness and presence that belies his age, and he’s someone we feel can grow and improve within our environment.”

Wilson: We've been working on this for months 

Meanwhile, Ross Wilson revealed that Newcastle had been working on this deal for months and hinted at plenty of competition for his signature.

“We are delighted to welcome Ewen to Newcastle United. This is a signing we have been working hard on for a number of months, and we are really pleased to get it over the line.

“Ewen is a hugely talented young goalkeeper who has gained a lot of admirers across European clubs, and he has a n exciting future ahead of him.

“What stood out for us, in all of our discussions, was his ambition, his focus and his determination to be here. We can’t wait to watch him develop and we know our supporters will give him a warm welcome.”

Hopefully, we'll see glimpses of him during pre-season and perhaps in some cup games during the next campaign as he deputises for a new first-choice keeper, which may be needed to help the talented but inexperienced Jaouen bed in. 

Welcome to the club, Ewen!