Freddie Woodman is unveiled as a Liverpool player after he signs for Liverpool Football Club on June 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)placeholder image
Freddie Woodman is unveiled as a Liverpool player after he signs for Liverpool Football Club on June 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool have signed former Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
Woodman, son of former Newcastle coach and current Bromley manager Andy, swapped South London for Tyneside as a 14-year-old. He then progressed through the club’s academy ranks, making his senior debut in a third round FA Cup tie against Luton Town in January 2018.
Following two seasons on loan at Championship side Swansea City, injuries to Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow saw Woodman start Newcastle’s 2021-22 campaign as their number one but he was unable to nail down a regular spot.
Woodman made nine appearances in total - his last coming against Manchester United when Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 defeat - before ending his 11-year stay by joining Preston North End on a permanent deal in summer 2022.
Three years on and the 28-year-old has made a surprise return to the Premier League, joining reigning champions Liverpool on a free transfer after his contract expired at Deepdale yesterday.
Freddie Woodman loves Newcastle United
Woodman still retains a huge amount of love for Newcastle despite moving on to pastures new.
“But also it’s a sad day when a chapter ends in your career at a club where you went there as a boy, and leave a man. All my family fell in love with the North East, and now we’ve all left.
“I came up here as a 14-year-old boy, and I’m 25 now. It’s a long time to spend at one football club, and I can’t thank the club enough for giving me the opportunity to grow as a man firstly.
“In my early days they helped me massively with my education, they helped my family. I couldn’t thank them enough. Obviously, to represent a football club the size of Newcastle has always been an honour. It’s been a pleasure, really.
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“I’ve made so many friends there. The people behind the scenes. I could go on forever … Thommo (Ray Thompson) the kit man, Derek (Wright) the physio, Tony (Toward, team administrator), Glenn (Patterson, player liaison officer).
“The people that work there that are from the North East. You rely on these people every single day. Also the players, you know Dummy (Paul Dummett), Sean (Longstaff), I’ve got so many friends that are Geordies up there. It’s definitely going to be a result that I check first when I come in after games.”
Liverpool club statement - Freddie Woodman signs
Liverpool confirmed last week that Woodman would be joining on July 1. He is set to be third choice goalkeeper behind Allisson and new arrival Giorgi Mamardashvili.
“Liverpool are set to sign Freddie Woodman on a free transfer,” a Liverpool statement read. “The 28-year-old has agreed a contract with the Reds to bolster the goalkeeping ranks upon the expiry of his previous deal with Preston North End.
“A former England U21 international, Woodman made 138 appearances during his three-year spell at Deepdale, winning the club's Player of the Year award for 2022-23.
“The 'keeper has also previously represented a handful of other clubs in England and Scotland, including Newcastle United, Swansea City and Kilmarnock.
“Woodman will begin pre-season training with Arne Slot's squad when they reconvene at the AXA Training Centre next month.”
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