Manchester United are close to completing the signing of goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer. There are still finer points to sort but United are in advanced stages of bringing Darlow to the club.
Senne Lammens needs support this coming season, with Altay Bayindir expected to leave. United have wanted an experienced goalkeeper, ideally with Premier League pedigree and qualifying as homegrown, to help bring on Lammens and rotate as required with the club in the Champions League next season.
Darlow, 35, is a free agent this summer after his Leeds United contract expired. The Athletic reported last month that United were weighing up a move for Darlow.
Darlow’s Impact at Elland Road
Darlow dislodged summer signing Lucas Perri as Leeds’ first-choice goalkeeper in the 2025-26 campaign. He started every game from mid-January to the end of the season as Daniel Farke’s side retained their Premier League status with a 14th-place finish.
Leeds only suffered four defeats in that 17-match run. Upon making the switch of goalkeepers in January, Farke said he felt the need to take Perri “out of the spotlight” after he had “perhaps not delivered, performance-wise, what we were expecting”.
Farke added Darlow is a “very reliable, solid goalkeeper, who was fantastic for us last season”. Darlow had started Leeds’ seven matches in their run-in as they clinched the Championship title in 2024-25.
Darlow has made 38 appearances for Leeds since joining the club from Newcastle United in 2023 on a three-year deal. He joins a small list of players who have traded Elland Road for Old Trafford, including Rio Ferdinand, Gordon McQueen, and Alan Smith.
United’s Goalkeeping Department
United settled on Lammens as their first-choice goalkeeper following a move from Royal Antwerp in September 2025, in a deal worth €21million (£18.2m) plus €4m in add-ons. Andre Onana spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Trabzonspor and has agreed another loan to Trabzonspor. Bayindir did not start over Lammens since the Belgian was instated.
Everton also explored a move for Darlow, who is a 15-time Wales international. Another option for United was Sam Johnstone, who has two years remaining on his contract at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Johnstone, 33, started his career at United’s academy.
Radek Vitek, who was named Bristol City’s player of the year after an excellent loan, is the subject of interest from several clubs. He is expected to leave United on loan or permanently to get regular minutes. Tom Heaton, 40, has signed a new one-year contract at United and will provide significant training support, while 23-year-old Dermot Mee signed a new two-year contract last week and is a valued member of the goalkeeper department.
Darlow’s Extensive Career
Darlow made 111 appearances for Nottingham Forest in his early career. He spent nine years at Newcastle, where he appeared 100 times, before joining Leeds.