Introducing Aaron Ramsdale… The ‘colourful’ goalkeeper reuniting with Eddie Howe at Newcastle United

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Newcastle United have signed Aaron Ramsdale from Southampton and here’s everything you need to know about him.

It’s been a painful transfer window for Newcastle United, with the club being turned down left, right and centre by their top targets.

Eddie Howe was keen to recruit the likes of Hugo Ekitike, Bryan Mbeumo and Joao Pedro, but they all opted for other clubs.

Thankfully, Aaron Ramsdale is one player who did want to sign for Newcastle, even if he was only the club’s second choice.

Newcastle had made James Trafford their top target but weeks of haggling with Burnley backfired spectacularly.

By the time Newcastle finally had a £27m agreement with the Clarets, Manchester City activated their right to match the offer and Trafford chose to return to his former club.

It was Newcastle’s biggest blunder of the window yet but it has led to a golden opportunity for Ramsdale.

Here’s what you need to know about him.

• Every player linked with Newcastle in summer transfer window: Latest news and prices on Eddie Howe’s targets

Who is Aaron Ramsdale?

Aaron Christopher Ramsdale is a professional goalkeeper who signed for Newcastle in August 2025.

After being released by Bolton Wanderers at 13, Ramsdale headed to Sheffield United, where he would eventually make his debut as a teenager, playing twice in the FA Cup.

His talent didn’t go unnoticed by Bournemouth, who moved to sign him for around £800k in January 2017 and that’s where he first met Howe.

After loan spells at Chesterfield and Wimbledon, Ramsdale returned with the Cherries in the Premier League and he made his full debut for the club on the opening day of the 2019-20 season.

Despite his own good form, Bournemouth were relegated and they cashed in on him that summer, with Sheffield United signing him back for £18.5m.

Once again, Ramsdale was relegated, although he was named the Blades’ Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season.

Ramsdale was on the move again that summer, with Arsenal paying a massive £30m to sign him. He would be No.1 for two seasons but earned criticism for a lack of focus between the sticks and was replaced by David Raya in 2023.

After a year of playing second fiddle, Southampton paid a huge £18m (rising to £25m) to sign him and he suffered his third Premier League relegation in 2024-25.

Aaron Ramsdale to Newcastle United transfer news

Newcastle turned to Ramsdale after they missed out on Trafford to Manchester City.

Ramsdale agreed to a loan move rather than signing for Sunderland, with Newcastle holding the option to buy next summer.

Newcastle reportedly paid £4m to sign Ramsdale on loan.

He represents a different signing to Trafford, as he won’t come in as a guaranteed No.1 for years to come but instead serves as serious competition and backup to Nick Pope.

Despite his struggles in recent years, Ramsdale does represent an upgrade on the veteran Martin Dubravka as second choice and Newcastle have saved significant funds on not signing Trafford.

How tall is Aaron Ramsdale?

Ramsdale stands at 6’3″ tall, so it’s no wonder he’s a goalkeeper.

The shot-stopper’s height allows him to jump high to claim crosses into the box but he isn’t so tall that he struggles to get down low to make saves.

Aaron Ramsdale age

Ramsdale was born on May 14, 1998, in Stoke-on-Trent, England, which makes him 27 years old, as of 2025.

Though five years older than Trafford, Ramsdale is by no means old for a goalkeeper and could still reach the peak of his career.

Aaron Ramsdale salary

According to Salary Sport, Ramsdale earns £92,000 a week at Southampton, which works out at £4.7m a year. That figure may have decreased after the Saints were relegated, though.

It is not yet clear what percentage of his wages Newcastle will be paying once the move is complete.

Aaron Ramsdale stats

Ramsdale’s career stats for club and country so far.

Aaron Ramsdale Instagram and X/Twitter accounts

Ramsdale has an official Instagram account @aaronramsdale and has a massive 1.3m followers.

He also has a big following of over 370k on X, formerly Twitter, @AaronRamsdale98.

What Eddie Howe has said about Aaron Ramsdale

Some Newcastle fans have concerns over Ramsdale’s reputation of not taking the game too seriously, but when asked about his attitude in 2019, Howe had no concerns.

The manager described him as a ‘colourful’ character but one who had found the balance between his ‘joking’ and ‘serious’ sides.

He said, as reported in the Bournemouth Echo when asked about him attending a game dressed as a Tellytubby: “I don’t know whether that’s true or not, I’ve got no idea. But yes, he’s slightly larger than life.

“He’s a colourful character. It wouldn’t surprise me if that were true and that was him dressed as a Teletubby. That wouldn’t surprise me.

“I think the big thing from Aaron’s perspective is as much as he’s got that clown, laughing and joking side, there’s a serious side to his personality as well and that’s his football and that’s his goalkeeping.

“I think that’s where if I can say he’s made the biggest improvement it would be on that side, where from around the training ground and his day-to-day conduct he’s been absolutely on it.

“There’s not a day where he’s not taking his work seriously, he has done. Off the pitch then, as long as it’s within the rules and he’s not doing something that would affect his professionalism, that’s just his character coming through.”