Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United have handed out another new deal to goalkeeper Max Thompson as they continue their plans for the 2025/26 season.
The 20-year-old has signed a one-year extension at Benton with Eddie Howe, a fan of the 6ft 1in stopper. United are delighted with Thompson's progress in the last two seasons after successful loan stints at Northampton Town and Chesterfield in the EFL.
Thompson is a former England Under-18 international and came through the same Newcastle youth team as Elliot Anderson. Thompson has been at Newcastle since the age of 11 and was part of the match day squad for the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United in 2023 on a day when Nick Pope was suspended an Martin Dubravka was cup-tied.
Speaking about his experiences, Thompson said: "It was the first time in my lifetime any Newcastle squad had got to a major final. That in itself was an experience but to be able to sample that on the pitch was something else and shows the difference what can happen when you start to win and, ultimately, that is where the club are trying to get to which I can hopefully be a part of in the future.
"Walking out in front of 40-50,000 Newcastle fans that day to do the warm-up at Wembley and even seeing the supporters before the final was really special. It's definitely something I'd hope to get more of.
"The aim is to focus and develop my game further, both on the pitch and in the gym. I now have that extra security to do that."
Thompson may be loaned out again this summer but by the same token Howe will assess his keepers in pre-season and may want to take a look at the Geordie youth product. Newcastle announced that training keeper Mark Gillespie was staying at the club for another year on Friday.
Thompson is the son of long serving kit man Ray Thompson and a former Ponteland High School pupil.
Newcastle's goalkeeping department is expected to make a one or two changes in the weeks ahead with Martin Dubravka and Odysseas Vlachodimos unlikely to be happy with number three and four roles respectively should a new keeper be signed.
John Ruddy has not signed a new deal at this stage and is understood to have had other offers to play elsewhere.
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