Liverpool sign Freddie Woodman on free transfer as Alisson & Mamardashvili backup

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 on 1 July in a deal worth £29 million.

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

Woodman will not only boost 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 is expected to report for pre-season training with Arne Slot’s side next month.

Born in Croydon, Woodman started his career at Crystal Palace before joining Newcastle United in 2013 and spent time on loan at several clubs including Hartlepool United, Crawley Town, Kilmarnock, Aberdeen, Swansea City and Bournemouth.

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 19-year-old 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 should Alisson or Mamardashvili be unavailable.

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The club’s long-term view remains focused on Mamardashvili as a future No 1, but the Georgian international will begin life at Liverpool in a backup role similar to Kelleher’s over recent seasons.

Slot will value Woodman’s experience across both Championship and Premier League levels, and his homegrown status provides added value as Liverpool juggle squad quotas for European competition.

The signing also allows the club to maintain a strong core of keepers without compromising on quality or compliance with UEFA registration rules.

Woodman’s arrival continues Liverpool’s busy summer of planning, as the Premier League champions prepare for a new era under their Dutch head coach and aim to defend their domestic crown.