Southampton goalkeeper signs new one-year contract

 

Southampton goalkeeper Willy Caballero gathers the ball, protected by James Ward-Prowse and Kyle Walker-Peters of Southampton watched by Jarrod Bowen of West Ham during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Southampton and West Ham United at St Mary's Stadium on March 2, 2022 in Southampton, England.

SAINTS goalkeeper Willy Caballero has signed a one-year extension to remain with the club for the upcoming 2022-23 season. 

The former Chelsea and Manchester City stopper turns 41 in September, but will likely act as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s third or fourth choice. 

Alex McCarthy and summer signing Gavin Bazunu will tussle for the number one shirt, while Caballero acts as back-up and offers his experience and mentality to the group. 

He will continue to work alongside goalkeeping coach Andrew Sparkes, who is part of a seven-man coaching including manager Hasenhuttl.

On signing his deal, Caballero said: "The feeling is to be ambitious, to be part of this team, to create a really great atmosphere here, to convince myself and to convince the players that we can do something together – something nice, something big.

“If I am thinking just that I can help them grow, it would be a comfortable situation. But I am here to compete with everyone, as I have done in the past and as I have done from the first day, because that is my way to train and feel football.”

Mateusz Lis, who also arrived at St Mary’s this summer, could potentially go out on loan – acting as a ready-made replacement for Caballero at the end of next campaign. 

Caballero signed for Saints initially as emergency cover while both McCarthy and new Tottenham Hotspur keeper Fraser Forster were unavailable for Hasenhuttl in December. 

The Argentine impressed during his one-month stint, and earned a contract to the end of the season. Saints then revealed, in the retained list, that negotiations were under way for another new Caballero deal. 

After confirming his stay, Hasenhuttl added: “Willy proved to be a valuable addition to our goalkeeper group last season, both on the pitch in the matches that he played and on the training ground, where his experience is massive for us and the other goalkeepers.

“He is an amazing guy who brings a lot of personality to the dressing room, and we are very happy he has decided to stay with us for another year.”