John Ruddy to leave Newcastle United and hang up his gloves - Report

In 2024, Newcastle United made a strange move in the transfer market to bring in veteran goalkeeper John Ruddy.

The former Birmingham City stopper was 37 at the time, and became part of a five-man goalkeeping roster along with Nick Pope, Martin Dubravka, Odysseas Vlachodimos and Mark Gillespie.

Signed as a 'training goalkeeper' along the same lines as Mark Gillespie, Ruddy often found himself on the bench, sometimes as one of two goalkeepers named amongst the substitutes, a sign of how paper-thin Newcastle's squad is.

Ruddy initially signed a one-year deal but extended his stay on Tyneside for another season and remained at the club for this campaign after it looked like he'd be moved on.

John Ruddy is ready for a new challenge

It has now been confirmed that this will be his last season with the Magpies as the 39-year-old is ready to embark on a new career.

As reported by the Daily Mail, John Ruddy will leave Newcastle at the end of the season and will look to become a sporting director.

Craig Hope noted in his report that Ruddy has the right character to be successful in that kind of role, noting that Ruddy has often been someone that Newcastle players can turn to for advice.

Mark Gillespie's contract is unresolved

With Ruddy leaving, that leaves the future of Mark Gillespie is to be decided. Another 'training goalkeeper' who has been at the club for a while. 

Gillespie's contract is also due to expire at the end of the season, and Craig Hope believes that with Ruddy moving on, Newcastle may opt to offer Gillespie another contract.

As long as we sign a new first-choice goalkeeper, we honestly don't mind what happens with Gillespie. We'd happily have him sign up for another year of being a glorified training dummy, just give him someone good to train with.