Matěj Kovář, a 25-year-old soccer goalkeeper from the Czech Republic, has just joined Dutch soccer club PSV Eindhoven from Bayer Leverkusen. For now, it’s just a loan transfer, which means he will play for PSV for one season. But there’s a special rule in his contract: if PSV wants to keep him longer, they can buy him permanently after the year ends. The only condition is that PSV must stay in the top Dutch league, called the Eredivisie—and since PSV are the reigning champions, that shouldn’t be a problem at all.
Who Is Matěj Kovář?
Matěj Kovář is a professional goalkeeper who plays for the Czech national team. He was born in 2000 and began his career in the Czech Republic, playing for Sparta Prague, one of the country’s most famous clubs. In the 2022/23 season, he helped Sparta Prague win the Czech First League, the top division in his home country.
But Matěj didn’t just play in the Czech Republic. He also spent time in England, where he signed with Manchester United. However, even though he trained with the team, he didn’t get a chance to play in any competitive matches there. He went on loan to Swindon Town and Burton Albion, two smaller clubs in England, to get more experience.
In 2022, he moved to Germany, signing with Bayer Leverkusen, a club that plays in the Bundesliga, Germany’s top soccer league. While there, he mostly served as the second-choice goalkeeper, playing behind Lukáš Hrádecký, who is a very experienced Finnish goalie. In two seasons with Leverkusen, Matěj played 32 matches and kept 16 clean sheets, which means he didn’t let in any goals in half of those games. That’s a great record for any goalkeeper!
Why PSV Wanted Kovář
PSV Eindhoven is one of the biggest and most successful soccer teams in the Netherlands. They’ve won the Eredivisie title 25 times and have played in big European tournaments like the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League. Last season, they finished first in the league, which means they are the current champions.
This summer, PSV was looking for another goalkeeper to join their squad. They had already signed Nick Olij, another talented goalkeeper from the Dutch league. But they wanted someone else to compete with Olij for the starting position. That’s when they turned their attention to Matěj Kovář.
PSV’s Director of Football Affairs, Earnest Stewart, said:
“We have been following Matěj for a long time. With him, we welcome a two-footed and reliable goalkeeper, who is also able to play football.”
In soccer, being “two-footed” means a player can use both feet well. This is especially useful for goalkeepers when passing the ball under pressure. Stewart also mentioned that with both Kovář and Olij, the team now has two top goalkeepers who can compete to be the starter.
A Confident Start for Kovář
Matěj is very excited about joining his new club. In his first interview after signing, he said:
“I was enthusiastic about it from minute one, and I am convinced that this is the best environment to develop myself as a footballer and as a person. I immediately feel comfortable and safe here.”
This shows that he already feels welcome in Eindhoven and believes that this club is the right place for him to grow as both a player and a person.
The Transfer Process
Even though the deal is only a loan for now, it wasn’t easy to complete. The two clubs—PSV and Bayer Leverkusen—took more than two weeks to agree on all the details. But PSV stayed patient and determined because they really wanted Kovář.
The deal is reported to include a possible transfer fee of around 5 million euros if PSV decides to buy him permanently next year. That’s a fair price for a goalkeeper with international experience and strong potential.
What His Agent and Former Club Say
Matěj’s agent, Viktor Kolar from the Sport Invest agency, also shared his thoughts about the move:
“We clearly wanted to resolve Matěj’s position during the summer break. He needs to feel confident and play on a regular basis. The goal was to find a quality club in a good European competition. PSV is a great option in our eyes.”
He also praised the club’s professionalism and coaching staff, especially head coach Peter Bosz, who used to manage top European clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Lyon. Having a coach with so much experience was one of the reasons why Kovář agreed to join PSV.
At Bayer Leverkusen, Matěj was the backup to Hrádecký, and the team recently signed Mark Flekken from Brentford in England. With two experienced goalkeepers ahead of him, it made sense for Kovář to find a new club where he could play more often.
What’s Next for Kovář?
Joining PSV is a big opportunity for Matěj. He will now compete with Nick Olij to become the club’s number one goalkeeper. The good news is that PSV plays in European competitions, so there will be a lot of games in different tournaments. That means both goalkeepers are likely to get playing time.
If Kovář performs well, PSV might decide to keep him long-term. And if he gets more chances to play, it could also help him become the first-choice goalkeeper for the Czech national team. Right now, he’s still gaining experience, but at 25 years old, he’s entering the prime years of his career.
Fun Soccer Facts for Young Fans
A clean sheet means a goalkeeper didn’t allow any goals in a game. Kovář has 16 clean sheets in just 32 games for Leverkusen!
PSV stands for Philips Sport Vereniging. It was founded by workers at the electronics company Philips.
The Eredivisie is the top league in the Netherlands. Famous players like Arjen Robben and Ruud van Nistelrooy once played there.
Kovář once trained at Manchester United, one of the most famous clubs in the world!
Matěj Kovář’s move to PSV is an exciting new step in his soccer journey. With hard work and dedication, he has the chance to shine in the Dutch league and maybe even become a regular for the Czech national team. All eyes will be on him as the new season begins!
