Liverpool Sign Goalkeeper Freddie Woodman on Free Transfer to Boost Squad Depth
Liverpool have officially added 28-year-old goalkeeper Freddie Woodman to their ranks on a free transfer from Preston North End, strengthening their goalkeeping options ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The move was confirmed by the club on June 27, 2025. Woodman, a former England U21 international, will serve as Liverpool’s third-choice keeper behind Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili, who joins from Valencia on July 1 in a £29 million deal.
First reported by The Times’ Paul Joyce, the signing gives Arne Slot a reliable, experienced backup as the club prepares to defend its Premier League crown and compete in the Champions League.
Woodman’s deal with Preston expired on June 30. During his three-year spell there, he made 138 appearances, including 44 last season with 17 clean sheets. His journey includes stints at Newcastle United and several loan moves—among them Swansea City, Bournemouth, and Aberdeen—and he was part of England’s U20 World Cup-winning squad in 2017.
Importantly, Woodman qualifies as an “association-trained” player, meaning he won’t count toward Liverpool’s 17-player UEFA limit for non-homegrown players—especially vital now that the Reds have filled that quota after signing Milos Kerkez. He’s set to report for pre-season training at the AXA Training Centre alongside 19-year-old Ármin Pécsi, a recent £1.5 million arrival from Puskás Akadémia.
Woodman fills a key need following Caoimhin Kelleher’s £18 million move to Brentford and loan spells for Vitezslav Jaros (Ajax) and Harvey Davies (Crawley Town).
Fans have largely welcomed the signing. One commented, “Smart move—experienced, free transfer, and no squad registration issues!” Still, some question the long-term plan, with Mamardashvili seen as Alisson’s eventual successor. “Third choice at 28? Hope he’s content with limited action,” one user wrote.
A former Preston Player of the Year (2022/23), Woodman brings proven reliability but isn’t expected to push for a starting spot.
Liverpool’s summer spending, which has now reached £187 million—including deals for Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Pécsi—is backed by key outgoings like Jarell Quansah’s £35 million sale. With talks for Marc Guéhi ongoing and Ibrahima Konaté’s future unclear, Woodman’s addition adds stability to a squad entering a crucial season.
