Liverpool is closing in on a somewhat surprise addition in the transfer window, with Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman expected to move to Anfield on a free transfer.

The Londoner will provide cover for Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili between the sticks for the Reds next season, following the loan departures of Vitezslav Jaros and Harvey Davies.

Jaros will spend the 2025-26 season at Ajax, while Davies has joined Crawley Town.



Liverpool also sold backup 'keeper Caoimhin Kelleher to Brentford earlier this month.

Who is Freddie Woodman: All the lowdown as Liverpool close in on surprise fifth signing of the summer	Freddie Woodman transfer: Liverpool to sign Preston goalkeeper to solve squad issue	Liverpool close on deal for Preston keeper Woodman

Woodman will not expect to play many games for Arne Slot's team, but the 28-year-old is an experienced head having made 278 senior appearances during his career.

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Woodman was picked up by Crystal Palace as a young boy, and spent more than a decade in the Selhurst Park club's academy before joining Newcastle in 2013.

The former England Under-21 international was on Newcastle's books for eight years but made just nine senior appearances for the Magpies, spending much of his time out on loan.

Woodman played for Crawley, Kilmarnock, Aberdeen, Swansea and Bournemouth, before leaving Newcastle to join Preston on a permanent deal in 2022.

One of Woodman's nine appearances for Newcastle came against Manchester United in 2021, when Cristiano Ronaldo was making his second debut for the club.

The Magpies lost that game 4-1, with Ronaldo scoring twice, and Woodman faced criticism for his performance, which he opened up about in an interview with The Times in 2023.

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Woodman had a game to forget against Manchester United.

He said, ‘Ronaldo’s first game back and you are the one who gives him the two goals.’ I had my friends saying, ‘You have just given Ronaldo a load of points on fantasy football.’

“I feel I am a better person for it now

If I had not tried to learn from that game and the games I had in the Premier League, then that would have been a waste.

“I couldn’t believe the standard, especially the strikers
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