Exeter City are preparing to sign custodian Joe Whitworth from Premier League club Crystal Palace.
According to Alan Nixon, the League One club is nearing an agreement to sign the 20-year-old on a season-long loan move as they prepare for another season in the third division.
Whitworth began his career at the AFC Wimbledon youth before moving to Palace in 2016, where he worked his way through the ranks before making his Premier League debut against Brighton and Hove Albion in 2023. In doing so, he set the club record for the youngest goalie fielded in a Premier League game.
The Sutton native has also played for England’s youth teams, moving from the Under 15s to the Under 18s in 2022.
A solid move for Exeter City?
Whitworth is young and inexperienced, and the Premier League club will be eager to get him out there and playing senior football to beef up his physique.
Gary Woods was released at the end of the season, while Harry Lee spent time on loan in the National League South last season, so the club will want competition for Shaun MacDonald, who served as a backup to Aston Villa loanee Viljami Sinisalo last season.
Whether Whitworth is ready for regular first-team involvement remains to be seen; the transition from academy football can be difficult, especially in a competitive and punishing league like League One. At 20 years old, however, he requires that atmosphere to demonstrate to Palace that he has what it takes.
A goalie can often make or break a season; make the wrong pick and your defence will suffer; make the right decision and Exeter may have discovered a hidden gem who is eager to prove himself.
Leave a Reply