Aaron Ramsdale is staying in the Premier League: Newcastle United has signed the goalkeeper from relegated FC Southampton on loan—because their preferred candidate decided to join Manchester City instead.
Aaron Ramsdale is entering his seventh Premier League season – with his fifth club. On Saturday, Newcastle United finalized the loan of the 27-year-old goalkeeper, which had been in the works for days. Ramsdale thus remains a member of the Premier League after being relegated with Southampton and can even hope to play in the Champions League.
In Newcastle, the five-time England international, who has not been selected since Euro 2024, will be reunited with his former mentor: under Eddie Howe, he made the leap into professional football at AFC Bournemouth. Via Sheffield United, he ended up at Arsenal in 2022, but lost his place to David Raya after finishing runner-up in the 2022/23 season and therefore “fled” to then-promoted Southampton in 2024, who paid over €20 million for him.
“When I walked into the stadium today and saw it empty, it was quite surreal to think that this will be my home in the foreseeable future,” said Ramsdale, for whom Newcastle has reportedly secured an option to buy. “I’ve got the shirt on, it’s got the beautiful Champions League logo on the sleeve – I’m thrilled to be here.” Seeing Howe again was a “big incentive,” he said. “He turned me from a man into a professional at Bournemouth. He really showed me how everything works.”
Vlachodimos’ delicate deal
In Newcastle, Ramsdale is set to challenge Nick Pope for the number 1 spot. The Magpies had actually wanted to sign James Trafford, who is five years younger, from Burnley FC, but he decided to return to Manchester City. With Pope and Ramsdale joined by the reliable Martin Dubravka, former Stuttgart player Odysseas Vlachodimos, 38-year-old John Ruddy and home-grown talent Mark Gillespie, who returned in 2020, there are sure to be more departures among the goalkeepers this summer.
There is particular speculation surrounding Vlachodimos. The 31-year-old joined from Nottingham Forest last summer for just under €25 million, with Forest in turn paying more than €40 million for Elliot Anderson – two deals that helped the clubs comply with the Premier League’s financial fair play rules.
