Manchester City confirm first-team goalkeeper exit after six seasons in club statement | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City will part ways with long-standing third-choice goalkeeper Scott Carson this summer, the club have confirmed.

The Whitehaven-born shot-stopper originally arrived at the club back in 2019 on a loan agreement from Derby County, before completing a free transfer as part of a permanent arrangement in the summer of 2021.

Given the stability between the posts at the Etihad Stadium, Carson had to wait until 2021 for his full Manchester City debut with the Premier League title secured early, as he started away to Newcastle United in a dramatic 3-4 win at St James’ Park.

A second and final appearance would then come in the following 2021/22 season, replacing Ederson during the second-half of a UEFA Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Sporting CP with the clash already wrapped up on aggregate.

A long-standing six year spell at the Etihad Stadium, winning a remarkable 12 trophies along the way including the UEFA Champions League, only adds to a staggering professional playing career that stretches back to January 2004 and his first senior appearance at Leeds United.

But with Manchester City themselves entering into a new phase, a decision has been made on Scott Carson that will end his stay at the club and his fond association in the goalkeeping department with Ederson and Stefan Ortega Moreno.

A statement issued by Manchester City on their official club website on Monday morning confirmed, “Scott Carson will leave Manchester City when his contract expires this summer. The 39-year-old has been at the Club since 2019, acting as a valued part of the goalkeeping unit.”

The statement continued, “During his time at City, Carson has been praised by goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor and peers Ederson and Stefan Ortega Moreno for his work ethic and the effect of his positive attitude amongst the group.

“He has been part of a squad that has lifted 12 major honours over the last six seasons during what has been a historic period of success for Pep Guardiola’s team.

“Everyone at Manchester City would like to thank Scott for his hard work and dedication and wish him the very best of luck for the future.”

With Manchester City now one goalkeeper short in the shot-stopping department ahead of the new season, there is a need for a new arrival into the first-team set-up, whether that be via the transfer market or an internal promotion from the club’s Academy system.

The latest line of reporting has indicated that the club holds an interest in Chelsea’s 33-year-old third-choice shot-stopper Marcus Bettinelli, who is being targeted for a transfer before Tuesday’s deadline for the FIFA Club World Cup.

Reports around the interest have also pointed out that Manchester City would be able to have Bettinelli has a ‘homegrown’ player to meet the European quota for the new season, while a deal before the Club World Cup would require a small fee paid to Stamford Bridge.