Analysing Ewen Jaouen: What Newcastle goalkeeper target offers and what he could become
Newcastle United’s pursuit of Ewen Jaouen may raise a few eyebrows.
Given the need for stability at No 1, it might seem surprising Newcastle’s first move has been for a 20-year-old goalkeeper whose highest level of senior football has been Ligue 2. Yet that perspective misses the point.
The France Under-21 international has emerged as one of the most highly regarded young goalkeepers in French football. Standing at 6ft 6in (1.97m), possessing excellent athletic traits and already demonstrating many of the qualities associated with modern elite goalkeeping, Newcastle view him as a player worth investing in before his value rises even further.
This appears to be a move rooted in long-term planning, allowing him to develop within Newcastle’s game model while learning the demands of Premier League football. But what exactly would Newcastle be getting right now?
One of the first things that stands out when watching Jaouen is his proactivity in defending his penalty area. Many young goalkeepers are reactive. They wait for danger to develop before attempting to deal with it. Jaouen often does the opposite.
Here, against Red Star, his starting position catches the eye.
Jaouen being proactive and taking up an offensive position at the top of his six-yard box
With the ball worked into a dangerous wide area, Jaouen quickly recognised the most likely outcome of the attack.
Rather than protecting his near post and waiting for the delivery, he takes up an advanced and central starting position, allowing him to attack the low cross before it reaches an opponent.
Here, he is successfully cutting out the low cross before it reaches the Red Star attacker at the back post
The positioning may appear risky. His first post is left open. But goalkeeping is about interpreting information.
Jaouen understands that the body shape of the attacker and the situation point towards a low cross rather than a shot. By positioning himself aggressively, he can defend the space and eliminate the danger before a chance is created.
The same mentality appears in his aerial work. His height and reach allow him to attack deliveries that many goalkeepers would struggle to influence. Yet, size alone does not make a goalkeeper dominant in the air. Positioning does.
Against Red Star in the 28th minute, Jaouen demonstrates this perfectly.
Jaouen’s offensive position…
His starting position several yards off his line reduces the distance he must travel and effectively extends his range. Because he begins higher, he is able to attack and claim a delivery that many goalkeepers would be forced to leave to their defenders.
And then attacking the ball at its highest point…
This willingness to leave his line is one of his most attractive qualities.
Rather than remaining rooted to the goal line, Jaouen consistently looks to take ownership of situations himself. His aggressive stance, often with his chest facing towards the ball, keeps him on the front foot and ready to attack the next action.
That same bravery is evident when dealing with crowded penalty-box situations. Deep into stoppage time against Montpellier, with Reims protecting a 1-0 lead, Jaouen produces another impressive example of box dominance.
Here is his aggressive position, facing the ball, a few steps outside his six-yard box…
Surrounded by players and under significant pressure, he reads the flight of the ball early, commits decisively and punches clear with conviction.
Before rising over two players and successfully punching the ball away from danger in a vital moment.
The moment is reminiscent of Nick Pope at his best. Both goalkeepers possess the confidence to attack deliveries rather than simply react to them. Importantly, Jaouen also shows a good understanding of when to catch and when to punch, an often-overlooked skill.
There are still moments where his scanning can improve and occasions where he is indecisive. However, given his age, those are refinements rather than major concerns. The important thing is the foundation is there.
If his aerial ability is one of his standout strengths, then his work in one-versus-one situations may be equally impressive. For a goalkeeper of his size, Jaouen displays excellent patience when isolated against attackers.
An impressive example came against eventual Ligue 2 champions Troyes.
Here he is retreating toward the top of his six-yard box as the attacker raced free on goal.
The temptation for younger goalkeepers is to rush forward and commit too early. Doing so reduces reaction time and allows attackers to exploit the space left behind. But Jaouen’s best moments come when he resists that temptation.
Against Troyes, he remained calm and composed for as long as possible. Rather than charging towards the attacker, he waited, read the situation and only closed the angle once the striker’s head dropped and the final action became predictable.
From there, he exploded forward, filled the goal with his frame and produced an excellent reactive save to his left.
And here he is closing the angle then reacting superbly, shooting out a strong left hand to make the save.
In these types of moments, his size becomes a significant weapon. By timing his movement correctly and remaining upright for longer, he closes the available shooting angle before reacting effectively to block the attempt.
Last season, there are numerous examples of him using his frame intelligently in one-v-one situations.
He is also particularly effective at making saves with his feet when shots arrive close to his body.
Jaouen making an incredible point-blank reflex save with his right foot.
Rather than attempting to force every save with his hands, he is comfortable using his body. It is a trait that Newcastle supporters will recognise from Pope, who has built much of his career around the same principle.
Jaouen consistently adopts a balanced stance with slightly bent knees, hands positioned around waist height and his weight moving forward. Crucially, his hands remain symmetrical, helping him react efficiently and establish clean contact with the ball.
Jaouen in his set position with his legs shoulder-width apart, chest slightly forward and hands symmetrical at waist height
There are areas for development, though. The most obvious concern lies in his lateral footwork and diving mechanics, particularly when moving to his left.
Like many goalkeepers approaching two metres in height, some of Jaouen’s greatest strengths and biggest developmental areas stem from his size. When moving forward, his footwork is generally sharp and efficient. But side-to-side movement can occasionally become problematic.
An example comes against Laval in the 63rd minute. Instead of taking an adjustment step to move into line with the ball, Jaouen becomes reliant on rotating his body. His positioning becomes slightly compromised, opening additional space towards goal.
Here he is out of position and failing to follow the ball across his goal mouth after the cutback.
A bigger movement to his left in addition to a small micro step before getting set would place him in a stronger position to make the save. He tried his best to throw himself toward the ball.
Yet, was unable to make the save.
These moments are not uncommon among taller goalkeepers and are often coachable. But they illustrate why Newcastle view him as a project rather than a finished product.
The issue becomes even clearer when examining some of his diving mechanics. For FC Annecy’s opener in the ninth minute, Jaouen initiated his dive to the left using primarily one hand.
Jaouen throwing himself toward the ball with one hand.
Although the trailing arm follows through, it arrives too late to effectively assist the movement. As a result, his body rotates forward and he lands more on his stomach than on his side.
Also pay attention to his right arm rotating in a looping motion and slamming into the ground.
His right arm looping toward the ball
And his right hand slamming into the ground as he lands on his stomach.
A goalkeeper wants both hands travelling towards the ball before extending with the lower hand if additional reach is required. Doing so helps orientate the body, improves balance and generates greater power. It also helps the goalkeeper line up the final point of contact between hand and ball more effectively, allowing them to reach maximum extension while maintaining control of their body shape.
While the flaw appears repeatedly when Jaouen dives to his left, it is not a technical action that is absent from his game altogether. There are several examples that show he possesses the correct movement pattern. The challenge will be reproducing it consistently and transferring those same mechanics to his left side if he is to eliminate the issue.
Against Rodez in the 47th minute, he provides an excellent example of how effective his mechanics can be when all the pieces come together.
Jaouen taking a step with his right foot toward the ball.
Unlike some of the examples to his left, Jaouen initially attacked the ball with both hands moving towards it. That detail is significant. By taking two hands towards the ball first, he helped orient his body correctly, generated a stronger push off the ground and got his momentum travelling directly along the line of the shot.
His footwork also placed him in a much stronger position. Rather than becoming reliant solely on upper-body rotation, he got himself in line with the ball before setting and took a forward step with his right foot, launching into the dive.
Only after establishing that body position does he extend fully with his right hand to make the save. The final touch comes from the bottom hand, which is exactly what goalkeeping coaches want to see in these situations. Because his body is moving in the correct direction, he can fully extend and make clean contact with the ball at maximum reach.
The tools are already there. Newcastle’s coaching staff will likely view that as one of the most encouraging aspects of his profile because it suggests the issue is not a lack of athleticism or technical understanding, but rather consistency in execution.
His distribution presents a similarly mixed picture. Jaouen is comfortable with the ball at his feet and possesses exceptional range. His ability to launch play deep into the opposition half is one of the reasons Reims frequently utilised direct distribution.
Jaouen can turn defence into attack almost instantly. Reims often pushed offensive players high and looked to win second balls, trusting their goalkeeper’s ability to bypass pressure.
However, there are also moments, specifically when playing short, where he plays too quickly. Rather than controlling the situation and inviting pressure before selecting the appropriate pass, Jaouen occasionally rushed decisions. Furthermore, when pressed, he can become reliant on immediate long clearances that are not always accurate.
Again, this feels less like a technical deficiency and more like a developmental opportunity. Which ultimately brings us back to why Newcastle are making this move.
Jaouen is attractive precisely because he possesses traits that cannot easily be taught. The finer details of footwork, body orientation and distribution decisions can be refined over time.
Newcastle are not looking to buy the goalkeeper Jaouen is today. They are hoping to invest in the goalkeeper they believe he can become.