Manchester United Academy goalkeeper Matej Kovar joins Bayer Leverkusen
- Oscar Sanders
- 16 August 2023
Bayer Leverkusen have swooped for highly-rated Manchester United Academy graduate goalkeeper Matej Kovar.
Highly-rated Manchester United Academy graduate goalkeeper Matej Kovar has joined Bayer Leverkusen in a permanent transfer, subject to international clearance.
The Czech goalkeeper's departure to the Bundesliga club concludes a five-and-a-half year stay with the Reds, having joined in January 2018 from FC Slovacko in his homeland.
Kovar became a regular between the posts for the Under-21s, making almost 50 appearances in Premier League 2. He also featured in the UEFA Youth League on six occasions for the Under-19s.
Earlier this year, he collected a league winner's medal in the Czech Republic at the end of a successful season-long loan with Sparta Prague. He previously gained senior experience during a six-month spell with Swindon Town.
Although the 23-year-old did not make a competitive first-team appearance for United, he did feature in two senior friendlies this summer. After coming on for the second half of an opening pre-season victory, 2-0 against Leeds United in Oslo, he played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet as Erik ten Hag's side beat Lyon 1-0 in Edinburgh.
Kovar was also on the bench for the final two friendlies, at home to Lens and against Athletic Club in Dublin.
