Liverpool sign Woodman on free transfer as Alisson & Mamardashvili back-up | OneFootball

Liverpool are set to add goalkeeper Freddie Woodman to their ranks on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at Preston North End.

The 28-year-old will arrive at Anfield as experienced cover for first-choice keeper Alisson Becker and new signing Giorgi Mamardashvili, who officially joins from Valencia in a deal worth £29 million on July 1.

With Caoimhin Kelleher sold to Brentford for a fee rising to £18 million and Vitezslav Jaros and Harvey Davies heading out on season-long loans, Liverpool have moved to reinforce their goalkeeping options.

Woodman will not only boost squad depth but also meet UEFA’s ‘association trained’ criteria, meaning he will not count against the 17 non-homegrown slots in the Champions League squad.

He started his career at Crystal Palace before joining Newcastle United in 2013. He subsequently spent time on loan at several clubs.

He joined Preston in 2022 and made 138 appearances in all competitions, including 44 last season.

The move represents a step up for the former England youth international, who was part of the Under-20 squad that won the World Cup in 2017.

Liverpool’s goalkeeping department will now include Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman and Armin Pecsi, who was recently signed from Hungarian outfit Puskas Akademia for £1.5 million.

Woodman is not expected to challenge for the starting spot, but his arrival provides experienced cover if Alisson or Mamardashvili are unavailable.

The club’s long-term view remains focused on Mamardashvili as a future number one, but he will begin life at Liverpool in a back-up role similar to Kelleher’s over recent seasons.

Woodman’s signing also allows the club to maintain a strong core of goalkeepers without compromising on quality or compliance with UEFA registration rules.