Southampton Football Club have announced the acquisition of a new goalkeeper, however it is unclear whether it will be purely as back up or as a genuine contender for first team selection.
The man announced by Southampton FC is Joe Lumley who has recently left Middlesbrough at the end of his contract and is a free agent.
The 28 year old has 202 League appearances to his name at 10 different clubs, starting with QPR in 2014 he made 76 appearances for the West London club before leaving in the summer of 2021, having spent much of that time out on loan.
In 2021 he signed for Middlesbrough on a free transfer and in his first season was first choice for most of it in their Championship campaign, however in the summer of 2022 he was allowed to go out on loan to Championship club Reading and again was first choice there last season.
Returning to Boro he was out of contract and not offered a new deal.
Over 150 of his 202 League appearances have been a Championship level, for two seasons at QPR between 2018-20 he was first choice and the last two at firstly Boro and then Reading.
Director of Football Jason Wilcox said:
"Joe has a lot of experience in the Championship and will be a good addition to what is already a strong stable of goalkeepers here.
"Willy Caballero moved on in the summer, so it was important we reinforced things a little bit, and Joe fits the bill well as someone who is at a good point in his career, but who we also feel can develop further under the coaching of Dean Thornton.”
Saints new style of possession football relies on a goalkeeper who is comfortable with using his feet to pass the ball and Alex McCarthy is not that kind of keeper, presumably Joe Lumley is, otherwise we would not have signed him.
Whether this spends the end for McCarthy who with only 269 League games to his name, admittedly 124 of them in the Premier League, is still open to debate, however McCarthy is not that much more experienced than Lumley despite being 5 years older.
Given Saints are now a Championship club, 3 goalkeepers is perhaps a luxury that they cannot afford and with McCarthy on a big contract they could well be looking at a loan deal to offset some of that cost, keeping Bazunu as first choice and Lumley as back up, they also have new signing from Manchester City 19 year old Josh McNamara as back up.
Joe Lumley, who will take the number 13 shirt, said:
"I'm delighted to sign for what is a massive club. It's obviously come down from the Premier League and looking to get back this season, and hopefully I can show what I can do here and be a big part of that.
"I’m really delighted to be here and everyone's been great with me so far, so really looking forward to it.
"Dean was my goalie coach when I was in the youth team at QPR, so I know him really well and the way he works. I know that he pushes his goalies to be the best they can be. I’m really looking forward to getting back working with him.”