When it comes to Newcastle United goalkeepers, you are pretty much always guaranteed a lively debate.
The ability (or not) of the current options, plus of course, just how many keepers there are at St James’ Park.
Then when there is talk of ADDING to the current stock of Newcastle United goalkeepers, it takes the ‘debate’ to a whole new level.
Today (Monday) we have seen widespread reporting of Newcastle United having put in an offer to sign Aaron Ramsdale. The Athletic, Sky Sports and others announcing that a loan deal with option to buy has been put forward by Newcastle, with Southampton though said to prefer a straight sale.
I will come back to Aaron Ramsdale in a bit, but first, I wanted to have a look at the Newcastle United goalkeepers that are currently at St James’ Park.
Current Newcastle United goalkeepers
Nick Pope
He is Eddie Howe’s current undisputed number one and has started both friendlies so far.
Martin Dubravka
He is Eddie Howe’s current undisputed number two and he played the second half at Celtic. No reason was given as to why he wasn’t on the plane to Singapore but Eddie Howe has said Dubravka is joining the squad in South Korea.
John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie
Neither of this pair played a single competitive minute last season and that plan will surely be the same in 2025/26.
Both of these agreed further short-term deals to stay on for one more season.
I think this pair are a massive red herring when Newcastle fans get hot under the collar about ‘how many Newcastle United goalkeepers’ do we need???
Numerous times it has been made clear from within the club that these two are seen as great assets in and around the training ground. That as senior experienced professionals they are a big help to Eddie Howe and his players.
They are NOT in the squad to play competitive. There are also claims that one or both of them could help Newcastle United when it comes to satisfying the number of homegrown players, or other criteria, for UEFA and the Champions League.
The way some fans go on, it is like Eddie Howe by having these two in his squad, is stopping new £50m+ strikers/central defenders (or goalkeepers…) getting signed.
They will both be on minimal money (in Newcastle United player terms) and probably their combined annual salaries will be lower than what Alexander Isak picks up per week, if/when he moves elsewhere. They are in reality extra members of the coaching staff who could play in goal in a massive emergency. NUFC also have plenty space currently when it comes to filling the senior 25 man squad for next season.
Odysseas Vlachodimos
A true Greek tragedy.
The Newcastle United hierarchy got the club in such a mess 13 months ago, to stay inside PSR limits (for both clubs), an inflated (at the time) £35m was paid by Forest for Elliot Anderson, whilst they (Forest) wouldn’t let us have Elanga or anybody else we wanted, so NUFC ended up having to give Forest a very inflated £20m for a keeper who had cost Forest £7m a year earlier and had only managed a handful of games where he failed to impress.
No official confirmation of the length of his contract but it was reported in the media as having been a five year deal United agreed to.
All of this for PSR purposes and clearly no interest in playing Vlachodimos. He came on as a sub when Dubravka got injured in the League Cup v AFC Wimbledon, so ‘helping’ us win a first trophy in 56 years!
I hear fans and even some journalists talking about Newcastle cutting their losses and selling Vlachodimos, get a few quid back for him. That is not going to happen, at least not any time soon.
Remember, his transfer (and that of Elliot Anderson) was all about the PSR.
The vast majority of the £20m Forest received, went straight into the accounts, reducing the losses that season by probably around £16m or £17m.
The initial and essential benefit for Newcastle United though, was that whilst they could put an instant £35m for Anderson into their three year PSR accounts to reduce the losses by that amount, it at the same time left a big ongoing issue.
It was reported that Vlachodimos signed a five year contract, so that means for PSR purposes his £20m transfer fee is spread (amortised) over the five years at £4m per season.
In rough terms, his book value goes down by £4m per season. So after one year the keeper’s book value is £16m, after two years £12m, after three years £8m, after four years £4m, then £0 after five years.
Where the book value is so important at any time, is if you sell the player. Odysseas Vlachodimos has been here 13 months, so if he did cost £20m and he has a five year contract, his current book value will be somewhere between £12m and £16m. For arguments sake, say his book value is currently £16m and you sold him now for maybe £4m at most, he would then go into the 2025/26 season accounts as a £12m loss (£16m current book value, less what he was sold for). Basically, that would be a big negative when it comes to PSR.
When you look at all these useless massively overpriced players that Man U have bought in recent years, such as Antony, Hojlund, Sancho and so on. This is a major reason they can’t just cut their losses after a year or two and get rid of them, not when they are on five year contracts and it would be a massive hit to their PSR position.
Bottom line is, in my opinion, Odysseas Vlachodimos can’t be sold at the moment by Newcastle United as it would be a big PSR hit. So he either hangs around as third or fourth choice keeper, or goes out on loan,
Max Thompson
At Newcastle since the age of 11, the now 20 year old one for the future who is on this tour of the Far East to get experience no doubt. Has gone out on loan the past two seasons at Northampton and Chesterfield respectively, very likely same again this coming season to get more first team football.
Which brings us back to Aaron Ramsdale…
I have given my reasoning above as to why, when it comes to our current goalkeeping options and possible additions, you should blank out Thompson, Ruddy, Vlachlodimos and Gillespie.
It is all about Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka.
My belief is that Eddie Howe is going to bring in a new keeper to compete with Nick Pope to be first choice. Once that happens I think Dubravka will then leave for first team football elsewhere, rather than dropping to third choice. If you remember, when Pope was injured, Dubravka was persuaded to stay this past winter rather than joining a Saudi club. Extending his contract by a year to the end of June 2026, in return getting a wage rise. I think he moves on when Aaron Ramsdale, or another keeper, comes in.
When Newcastle’s interest in Aaron Ramsdale was reported today, I found a lot of the comments a bit bizarre. A belief amongst plenty of Newcastle fans it seems, that he would be a rubbish signing.
Eddie Howe knows the keeper very well and clearly rates him. Howe signed him for Bournemouth from Sheffield United for £800,000 in January 2017. Three and a half years later, Sheffield paid Bournemouth £18.5m to bring him back to Bramall Lane in August 2020.
Aaron Ramsdale was named Sheffield United’s player of the season for 2020/21 and then Arsenal paid £30m for him in summer 2021.
Ramsdale was an all but ever present the next two seasons for Arsenal, 34 Premier League starts in 2021/22 and playing all 38 PL matches in 2022/23.
He didn’t do a lot wrong that 2022/23 season, Arsenal finished second top and Aaron Ramsdale only conceded 43 goals. The only clubs/goalkeepers to better that were Ederson at Man City and…Nick Pope at United, these two clubs only conceding 33 each that Premier League season.
Mikel Arteta simply thought he could bring in an even better keeper, David Raya arrived and became instant first choice. You can hardly argue with Arteta’s decision as Arsenal conceded only 29 goals in 2023/24 and 34 in 2024/25, the lowest of all PL clubs each of the two seasons.
Aaron Ramsdale stayed for a season and made six PL appearances in 2023/24, before promoted Southampton paid £25m for the keeper last summer. We all know how woeful Southampton were last season and conceded more goals (86) than any other PL club, Ramsdale starting 30 of the 38 PL games.
To judge Aaron Ramsdale on that one season would be ridiculously harsh, considering his record previously, including called up for England.
Aaron Ramsdale is in his prime aged 27 and I think having him and Nick Pope would give really strong options when it comes to Newcastle United goalkeepers for the coming season.
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