George Wickens, the goalkeeper who matched Ederson’s assists record | OneFootball

George Wickens has enjoyed a breakout year as Lincoln City won League One with 103 points and ended a 65-year wait for second-tier football. He kept 19 clean sheets, joint best in the top four tiers, matched former Manchester City keeper Ederson for goalkeeper assists, and made the League One Team of the Season.

According to NY Times, the six foot six, 198cm goalkeeper came through Fulham, represented England at youth level and played across the pyramid, from backing up Bernd Leno to a non-League loan at Wealdstone.

Retained as Fulham’s third-choice behind Leno and Marek Rodak, he later joined Ross County on loan in January 2024. On debut at Celtic he conceded early, then saved two Luis Palma penalties, the first retaken for encroachment.

He set a league record with 19 saves in a 3-1 defeat at Rangers the following month, and left Fulham when his deal expired to pursue regular football.

Lincoln signed him in July 2024 on a four-year deal. He kept 10 clean sheets in year one, then a low-possession, direct style under Michael Skubala powered this season, highlighted by a flying stop from Ollie Tanner in a March win at Cardiff that sent Lincoln top.

He reached the mark on 25 April, a long pass sending Tendayi Darikwa through at Wycombe. With the 17th-largest budget in League One, Lincoln now target survival in the Championship, while Wickens expects to be busier and aims to claim more crosses than he punches.

Source: NY Times