OFFICIAL: Loris Karius joins Newcastle on six-month deal

Newcastle United just made official the signing of German goalkeeper Loris Karius for the remainder of the year. Karius’ deal will finish next January although it includes an extension option until the end of the season if both parties agree to those terms by the end of the 2022 calendar year.

As we reported earlier this month, this signing is entirely related to the breaking news of Karl Darlow getting injured (ankle) in a training session and facing a weeks-long absence. Newcastle lost no time in adding a capable backup for no. 1 option and fellow newcomer Nick Pope, after Martin Dubravka was loaned out to Manchester United in late August and can’t be recalled—thanks to a clause in his loan deal—until the end of the calendar year.

Karius’ deal with Liverpool ended at the end of last season with the GK hitting the free agent market after spending one year in his native Germany on loan at Union Berlin. Karius had spent time at Mainz 05—where he debuted in 2012-13—before joining Liverpool. He then moved on to Turkish side Besiktas on his first loan deal for two seasons where he started 55 games and lastly joined Union Berlin where he only got to appear in four games starting three of them.

Entering his age-28 season, Karius is still young in goalkeeping terms. Signing him on a free won’t cause any problems to Newcastle’s economy and dealings with Financial Fair Play issues going forward. As stated above, there is also the chance the Magpies recall Dubravka from Manchester United later this season. However, that won’t be possible until January as it was specified in his loan deal with the Red Devils.

Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images

Karius lastly played in a 1-1 draw last February with Union Berlin against Hoffenheim where he started and played the full 90 minutes. He returned to Liverpool in time to see his contract finish last summer, thus entering the open market and offering his talents to the best and most willing bidders out there—of which there were none until now by the look of it.

Karl Darlow’s injury, reportedly ankle ligament damage, was suffered in a training session and is expected to leave the goalie sitting on the shelves and recovering for several weeks—if not months—as reported by The Telegraph.

This marks Newcastle’s fifth official addition this season after signing all of Matt Targett, Nick Pope, Sven Botman, and Alexander Isak this summer ahead of the Premier League campaign.

Newcastle’s official YouTube channel already published the first interview of Loris Karius as a member of the Magpie family. You can watch it in full below.

Howay the Kar!