Burnley Football Club today officially announced the arrival of Slovakian goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka from Newcastle United on a permanent transfer. The 36-year-old’s deal runs for a year, and he will wear number 1 for the upcoming 2025–26 Premier League season for Burnley.
The signing comes as Burnley prepare to return to the top tier of English football, having dominated the Championship last season.
Who is Martin Dúbravka?
Dúbravka was born in Žilina, Slovakia, on 15 January 1989. He is a very experienced goalkeeper known for his consistency, composure, and reflexes at club level across Europe and in the Premier League.
Early Career
He began his professional career at MŠK Žilina, his local club, where he won two Slovak Super Liga titles and a Slovak Super Cup, and competed in the UEFA Champions League. Following his career there, in 2014, he moved to Esbjerg fB in Denmark, before moving to Slovan Liberec in the Czech Republic.
In 2017, he signed for Sparta Prague, where he would go on to impress enough for multiple teams across Europe to request the opportunity for him to join, which ultimately allowed him the opportunity to join a club within the English Premier League.
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Newcastle United Journey (2018–2025)
Dúbravka officially joined Newcastle on loan in January 2018 and had a remarkable impact from the outset. His Premier League debut was incredible, with him earning a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over Manchester United. From that point on, his presence forced the club to make a permanent transfer for him that summer. After spending over seven years at St. James’ Park, Dúbravka went on to play 179 matches in all competitions, as well as earning 51 clean sheets. He became an established first-choice goalkeeper for multiple seasons, showing his reliability even amidst squad changes, staffing changes, etc.
Dúbravka contributed significantly to their Carabao Cup run, which featured him starting in both legs of the competition against Arsenal in the semi-final. He was also relied on to be one of the back-ups for the club’s latest push for European positions.
International Career
Dúbravka has also been a consistent member of the Slovakia national team, earning 53 senior caps as of August 2025. He made his international debut in 2014, and he was Slovakia’s primary goalkeeper for both UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, showing that he can be counted on at the highest level under pressure.
Burnley’s Reasons for Pursuing Dúbravka
After the sale of young goalkeeper James Trafford, Burnley identified Dúbravka as their next goalkeeper, given he had Premier League experience, but also leadership experience, and calmness in pressure situations. Burnley were the best defensive team in the Championship last season – their league record of just 16 goals conceded in 46 matches and 30 clean sheets speaks for itself.
With a step back up to the Premier League, Burnley required a keeper with championship credentials that could be aligned with their records. Dúbravka’s profile matched that type of experience.
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Dúbravka’s First Comments as a Claret
“I’m very happy to be here. It’s a really exciting time to join Burnley before they return to the Premier League. I’ve heard only good things about the club, the environment, and I want to bring my experience into this exciting squad to help compete at the highest level.”
“Burnley had a great season defensively. I’m excited to come and contribute and to be playing in front of great fans.”
What This Means for Burnley
This isn’t just a signing to fill a position; this is an indication that Burnley wants to compete in the Premier League. The squad is built on structure, defence and discipline and bringing in a quality goalkeeper like Dúbravka gives reassurance and strength in depth.
He brings with him leadership characteristics, international pedigree, and Premier League experience, making him a key player in Burnley’s quest to stay in the top division.
Conclusion
Martin Dúbravka’s addition to Burnley is a shrewd and calculated move by a club prepared to face off with the trials and tribulations of the Premier League. Through years of experience and the knowledge of consistently performing at the international level, he could play a vital role in keeping the Clarets stable defensively.
To the fans and followers of the 96.com app, this is a transfer to keep an eye on, a trusted feather in the cap of Turf Moor now, ready to make an impact on Day One.
