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Fraser Forster

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Norwich Career: 2009-10 (on loan from Newcastle) (42 appearances)
Current Club: Southampton
Date of Birth: 17/03/1988 (Hexham)
Nationality: English

Biography

Newcastle United keeper Fraser Forster joined Norwich on a one month loan on 28th August 2009 following injuries to Ben Alnwick and an international call-up for Declan Rudd

Forster came through the ranks at Newcastle and was third choice goalkeeper in the 2007–08 season while Tim Krul was on loan at Falkirk, and played as a regular in the reserves. He also deputised for much of the season as Shay Given suffered from injury and Steve Harper was forced to take his place.

With Krul back for the 2008–09 season and Given back to full fitness, Forster was loaned out to Stockport County on 2nd October 2008, to deputise for regular goalkeeper Owain Fôn Williams while he was away on international duty with Wales. He made 6 appearances for Stockport.

On 31st July 2009, he signed a one month loan deal with Bristol Rovers and made 4 appearances for them

Forster made his debut, keeping a clean sheet, in the 2-0 win at Harlepool on 29th August 2009. His loan was then extended until the end of December 2009, and then until the end of the 2009/10 season

Reports in the tabloid press in December 2009 suggested that Forster's form had attracted the attention of both Arsenal and Spirs.

Forster made 42 appearances for City in 2009/10, despite two red cards at Gillingham and Tranmere, and was voted second in the Player of the Season awards. It is hoped that he will return on loan for 2010/11 although Burnley were also reported to be interested in him.

Forster joined Celtic on loan for the 2010/11 season on 24th August 2010. Celtic manager Neil Lennon had been looking for a keeper to challenge Lukasz Zaluska since Artur Boruc signed for Fiorentina. Lennon said "He's a big boy, he's come highly recommended, I've watched him myself a couple of times. His age, 22, is the only thing going against him because otherwise he has all the qualities you look for in a goalkeeper. He's got a massive presence and he's come highly recommended from people in the game whose opinion I trust. We've needed competition in that area so he'll add to that."

Forster made his Celtic debut in a 1-0 win away to Motherwell on 29th August 2010. In his season with Celtic, they finished second to Rangers in the League but won the Scottish Cup with a 3-0 win over Stuart McCall's Motherwell. He kept 24 clean sheets in 44 games for Celtic.

In June 2011, Celtic had a £1.5million bid for Forster rejected by Newcastle. It was also speculated that he was to be sold in part-exchange to Birmingham for Ben Foster.

On 17th August 2011, Forster returned to Celtic on another season long loan with the possibility of a permanent deal at the end of it. He helped Celtic win the Scottish League title. Despite speculation linking him with QPR, Forster eventually joined Celtic on 5th July 2012 for a fee around £2million. Fraser signed a four year deal.

In October 2012, Fraser was called up by England for the World Cup qualifying matches against San Marino and Poland.

Forster won the Scottish Premiership title for the second time when Celtic beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4-1 on 21st April 2013.

Forster won his first England cap on 15th November 2013 playing all 90 minutes in the 2-0 defeat to Chile at Wembley.

Forster won the Scottish Premiership title for a third time when Celtic defeated Partick Thistle 5-1 on 26th March 2014. Forster was included in the 23-man England squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil along with Joe Hart and Ben Foster.

On 10th August 2014, Forster completed a £10m transfer to Southampton where he will link up with England goalkeeping coach Dave Watson. Forster said "I have accepted a new opportunity, but I am a Celtic supporter for life and will be cheering the club on in everything they do." Southampton manager Ronald Koeman added: "Fraser is the perfect fit to help complement the players we already have, and he will add a lot of quality to the squad."

Forster was selected as part of the England squad for the European Championships in France in the summer of 2016.

Losing his place to Angus Gunn and Alex McCarthy, Forster was loaned on 22nd August 2019 to Celtic on a season-long loan, and played three days later against Hearts in his first game since Boxing Day 2017.

Returning to Southampton he made 13 appearancesin 2020/21 and has played 24 games in 2021/22. He was called up to the England squad in February 2022 for the friendlies against Switzerland and the Ivory Coast, following injury to Sam Johnstone. This was his first involvement with the England squad since August 2017.

In May 2022 it was reported that he had completed a medical at Spurs ahead of a transfer to North London where he will replace Pierluigi Gollini as second choice keeper. The move would happen on 1st July when Forster's contact with Southampton expires and he becomes a free agent. Spurs announced on 8th June that Forster had signed a two year deal to commence when his Southampton contract ended.


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