Liverpool confirm fifth summer signing with surprise swoop for Gareth Southgate’s GODSON… after Milos Kerkez’s move took the Reds’ transfer spending past £200m

Liverpool have made yet another summer signing by bringing the godson of ex-England manager Gareth Southgate to Anfield.

The Reds’ fifth summer recruit is 28-year-old goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, who was a free agent after leaving Preston North End following the 2024-25 season.

Woodman is the son of former Brentford, Northampton Town, Oxford United and Colchester United goalkeeper Andy Woodman, who is a long-time close friend of the recently knighted Sir Gareth.

Liverpool’s new man made 138 appearances for Preston, having previously played for Bournemouth, Swansea, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, Crawley and Hartlepool, after starting his senior career at Newcastle.

Woodman played four Premier League matches for Newcastle, all in the 2021-22 season.

He has been capped by England at six different youth levels, but was never called up to the senior squad despite his close contact on the inside. 

Woodman is the godson of Gareth Southgate — who recently became Sir Gareth Southgate

Goalkeeper Woodman pictured saving a penalty for Preston against Wycombe in February

Woodman is unlikely to get much game time at Anfield, where he is expected to serve as understudy behind both Alisson Becker and Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili, who signed for Liverpool 12 months ago but only arrived this summer.

But his status as a ‘homegrown’ English player should help him fit into Liverpool’s squad for the UEFA Champions League.

Prior to Woodman’s arrival, the Reds had already made four new additions to the squad that won the Premier League title so convincingly in Arne Slot‘s first season as manager.

Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for a combined total of £146million earlier this month.

Left back Milos Kerkez has joined from Bournemouth for £40m, while 20-year-old goalkeeper Armin Pecsi has been brought in from Puskas Akademia in Hungary.