All you need to know on Freddie Woodman as Liverpool close in on Preston goalkeeper

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Liverpool’s goalkeeping department has undergone a serious overhaul this summer.

The headline news is that Caoimhin Kelleher has finally gone, replaced by Georgian international Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Kelleher aside, former third choice goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros has joined Ajax on loan while Liverpool academy keeper Harvey Davies has moved to Crawley Town.

In came Hungarian youngster Armin Pecsi, seemingly with a view to being Liverpool‘s third choice goalkeeper for the upcoming season.

However, out of nowhere, Liverpool moved to add yet another goalie on Friday evening.

The shot-stopper in question is Preston North End’s Freddie Woodman, who is reportedly set to arrive on a free transfer. But, just who is Liverpool’s newest custodian?

Liverpool close to Freddie Woodman addition

Liverpool’s summer has been full of surprises so far, and another arrived on Friday, with journalist Paul Joyce revealing Woodman’s imminent move to Anfield.

“Liverpool close to signing goalkeeper Freddie Woodman on free transfer from Preston North End,” Joyce posted on X.

“Will provide cover for Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili with Jaros and Davies joining Ajax and Crawley Town on loan next season.

“Woodman meets the criteria for an Association Trained player and does not need to take one of Liverpool’s 17 non homegrown slots on the UEFA squad list.”

Who is Freddie Woodman?

Although Woodman’s addition does come as a slight shock, it is arguable whether he will ever play a game for Liverpool.

Nevertheless, the 28-year-old is clearly a talented goalkeeper, who has spent the past five seasons as a first choice goalkeeper in the Championship.

READ MORE: Liverpool told there’s a strong case for ‘massive’ Giorgi Mamardashvili to start over Alisson Becker

Three of those have been spent at Preston, for whom Woodman played 44 times in 2024/25.

The former England U21 international joined the second division side in 2022, having put an end to a series of loans from Newcastle United. Woodman had joined the Magpies from Crystal Palace as a 17-year-old in 2014.

Woodman played nine times for Newcastle during a seven-year spell, featuring four times in the Premier League during the 2021/22 campaign.

Having also featured for Hartlepool United, Crawley Town, Kilmarnock, Aberdeen and Bournemouth, Woodman spent two years as Swansea’s No. 1 between 2019 and 2021. He also won the U20 World Cup with England in 2017, winning the tournament’s golden glove for most clean sheets along the way.

The Croydon native also has family in the game, with his father, Andy, a well-travelled former goalkeeper himself, while former England manager Gareth Southgate is reportedly Woodman’s godfather.