Sam Johnstone

Samuel Luke Johnstone (born 25 March 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as goalkeeper for club Crystal Palace and the England national team.

Samuel Luke Johnstone was born on 25 March 1993 in Preston, Lancashire.

His father is Glenn Johnstone, a former professional footballer.

In the 2010–11 season, he was first-choice goalkeeper in the academy, after sharing the duties the previous season.

On 26 July 2011, Johnstone joined League One club Oldham Athletic on loan, as both of their first-choice goalkeepers were sidelined by injury.

On 9 September, Johnstone joined League One club Scunthorpe United on a one-month loan after their first-choice goalkeeper Josh Lillis suffered a long-term injury.

The following day, he made his debut in a 1–1 home draw against Sheffield United.

On 19 October, Johnstone dislocated his finger during a training session, forcing Scunthorpe to search for an emergency goalkeeper once again.

On 10 November, Scunthorpe extended the loan until 9 December, which was then extended to 10 January 2012.

On 20 March 2013, Manchester United agreed for Johnstone to spend the rest of the 2012–13 season on loan to League One club Walsall.

He kept consecutive clean sheets in his first few matches and was first-choice goalkeeper during his loan.

On 17 August, Johnstone was loaned to Championship club Yeovil Town for a period of three months.

Johnstone made his debut on the same day in a 2–0 loss to Burnley, but it was later confirmed that he had suffered a finger injury prior to his debut and returned to Manchester United for treatment.

On 4 April, Johnstone agreed a loan extension until the end of the 2013–14 season.

On 31 January 2014, Johnstone was loaned to Championship club Doncaster Rovers for four weeks.

With the first-choice goalkeeper Ross Turnbull injured, Johnstone made his debut the following day at the Keepmoat Stadium against Middlesbrough.

On 27 October, Johnstone again joined Doncaster Rovers, with the club now in League One, on loan, initially until January 2015.

On 12 January 2015, Johnstone joined his hometown club, Preston North End of League One, on loan until the end of the 2014–15 season.

On 25 May, Johnstone kept a clean sheet in the 2015 League One play-off final as Preston won promotion to the Championship with a 4–0 win over Swindon Town at Wembley Stadium.

On Manchester United's pre-season tour of the United States in July 2015, Johnstone played as second-choice goalkeeper ahead of Anders Lindegaard, covering for David de Gea while the Spaniard recovered from a knock.

He started in the victories over Club América and San Jose Earthquakes (playing the entire game) and came on as a second-half substitute against Barcelona in a 3–1 victory.

After rumours of De Gea's potential transfer Real Madrid caused the Spaniard to be dropped from the Manchester United squad, Johnstone was named on the bench behind Sergio Romero for the first game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur.

After De Gea returned to the United first-team, following the collapse of his move, Johnstone failed to make the bench again in 2015.

On 31 December 2015, he re-signed for Preston on an initial 28-day loan, after Sunderland recalled Jordan Pickford on the same day.

Johnstone's younger brother, Max, joined Manchester United as a youth-team player in September 2016.

Johnstone joined Manchester United at academy level from Chorley-based club Euxton Villa, after being spotted by club scout Colin Fairhurst.

He made his first appearance of his second stint at Preston in a 2–1 home win over Rotherham United on 2 January 2016.

On 16 October 2016, Johnstone extended his contract at Manchester United until June 2018.

On 5 January 2017, Johnstone joined Championship club Aston Villa on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.

He made his debut on 8 January 2017, in an FA Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

During the period of this loan spell, he kept more clean sheets in the Championship than any other goalkeeper.

In July 2017, he returned to Aston Villa on a loan deal until the end of the 2017–18 season.

A product of the Manchester United academy, Johnstone spent time on loan with Oldham Athletic, Scunthorpe United, Walsall, Yeovil Town, Doncaster Rovers, Preston North End and Aston Villa, before his transfer to West Bromwich Albion in 2018.

He was an England youth international, winning caps at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-20 levels.

On 3 July 2018, Johnstone signed a four-year contract with newly relegated Championship club West Bromwich Albion, for a transfer fee reported by BBC Sport to be an initial £6.5 million.

He was part of the West Brom team that lost to Aston Villa in the EFL Championship play-off semi-finals on penalties in May 2019.

However, the following season, Sam Johnstone helped the club gain automatic promotion to the Premier League for the 2020–21 season.

Despite some criticism from fans, Johnstone kept his place as West Brom's first-choice goalkeeper and went on to have a great season despite the club being relegated that year.

Sam Johnstone produced a number of 'world class' saves throughout the season, securing vital points for the club on numerous occasions.

On 15 December 2020, Johnstone produced two stoppage-time saves to deny İlkay Gündoğan and Raheem Sterling to secure a 1–1 draw for the club away at the home of future Premier League Champions, Manchester City. Johnstone also played well against former club Manchester United and reigning champions Liverpool, securing 1–1 draws against both.