After days of speculation, the Philippine National Men’s Football Team’s primary goalkeeper has found a new home.
Neil Etheridge completed a transfer from Cardiff City Football Club to Birmingham City Football Club on a four-year contract, Friday afternoon.
“Firstly, I’d just like to take the time to say a massive thank you to Cardiff City FC for everything they’ve done for me,” shared the 30-year-old on his Instagram account.
The 6-foot-2 stopper was part of the Cardiff squad that kept 19 clean sheets and finished in second place in the 2017-2018 EFL Championship season under manager Neil Warnock, earning them a ticket to the 2018-2019 English Premier League.
Etheridge then suffered relegation with the same team the following season in England’s top football division. Still, his standout performances in goal impressed the fans and earned him the club’s Player of the Year honor.
“The past three years we’ve had such an amazing time together, being promoted in my first season to the Premier League and even though we were relegated we gave it a right go in the best league in the world,” added the London native, whose mother hails from Tarlac.
“I would like to thank all you guys, the supporters for everything, all the people behind the scenes that make that club run so that we as players can get out there and entertain and of course all the players and friends that I played with during my time with the club.”
Now that he is with Birmingham, Etheridge is expected to provide some much-needed experience as the team’s new starting goalkeeper.
Birmingham narrowly avoided relegation in the 2019-2020 EFL Championship season, finishing in 20th place with 50 points. Now, with the recruitment of Etheridge and the signing of Aitor Karanka as coach, the club looks to get back to the Premier League for the first time since the 2010-2011 season.
