Liverpool supporters might be double-checking their calendars after the club announced the signing of goalkeeper Freddie Woodman — but here’s the catch: he’s not technically a Liverpool player just yet.
While the deal is done and dusted on paper, Woodman won’t officially join the Reds until July 1.
That’s when his contract with Preston North End expires. Until then, the former England youth international remains, at least officially, a free agent.
It’s a bit of a football formality, but one that causes more confusion than a VAR decision on a Monday night.
The Premier League champs revealed the agreement last night, adding another name to Arne Slot’s reshaped squad. However, fans eager to see Woodman in red will need to be patient for a few more days.
The 28-year-old will link up with the team in pre-season training next month at the AXA Training Centre. He’ll be one of three senior keepers in the mix — behind the ever-reliable Alisson Becker and new signing Giorgi Mamardashvili.
With Caoimhin Kelleher off to Brentford, Woodman’s arrival fills the homegrown quota and adds depth between the sticks.
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Who is Freddie Woodman? The new Liverpool signing
Woodman isn’t new to the football scene. He made 138 appearances for Preston and was named their Player of the Year in 2022–23.
Before that, he spent time with Newcastle United, Swansea City, and Kilmarnock. He was also part of England’s U-17 World Cup-winning squad in 2017.
Fun fact for trivia lovers — he’s the godson of Gareth Southgate, and his father Andy manages League Two side Bromley. So, football clearly runs in the family.
Liverpool’s summer transfer window has been a mix of big names and smart squad signings.
Woodman may not be grabbing headlines like Wirtz or Frimpong, but every top team needs its dependable keepers. And in Woodman, the Reds seem to have found just that.