Sheffield United has resigned Aaron Ramsdale from Bournemouth for £18.5m on a four-year deal.
22-year-old Ramsdale, who made two senior appearances for Sheffield United before leaving for Bournemouth in January 2017 also had stints in League One – in 2017 and had loan spells at Chesterfield and AFC Wimbledon.
Aaron Ramsdale is a Blade ✍️ pic.twitter.com/bc94aeGLf0
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) August 19, 2020
He made 37 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth, who were relegated last season and was named the club’s player of the year for the 2019-20 campaign.
“I’m very fortunate to be able to come back to a place I call home. I’m just excited to get going, see the lads I left behind and meet the new ones now in the team.
“I’m delighted, it wasn’t an easy decision to leave Bournemouth, but when a club comes in for you, shows that faith it has and is willing to pay this sort of money then obviously I’ve got to do a lot to repay it, but my smile has been ear-to-ear since I walked back through the door.”
Aaron Ramsdale to replace Dean Henderson
This means that the goalie will be between the sticks, replacing Dean Henderson, who has been at the club on loan from Manchester United for the past two seasons.
Henderson had announced earlier in the week that he would not be extending his loan deal from Manchester United for a third campaign.
Speaking ahead of the new campaign, Blades boss Chris Wilder said the goalkeeping situation at the club needed to be addressed. Thus the reason for bringing in the former player.
“This is not about Dean, it’s about bringing Aaron in, but Dean was outstanding for us for two years. We know a lot about Aaron, we’ve watched him develop on loan at Chesterfield and then AFC Wimbledon and obviously we’ve watched him this season too.
“I’d like to thank the board for their backing given the situation. Aaron is certainly amongst the best young goalkeepers in this country and we are delighted to have him.”
Ramsdale has been capped by England at U18, U19, U20, and U21 level and made just two senior appearances in his first spell for Sheffield United.
Henderson helped Sheffield’s team earn promotion to the Premier League in his first campaign, and kept 13 clean sheets in 36 games. The Blades finished ninth in the top flight last term.
Henderson could be fighting De Gea
Meanwhile, Henderson is about to negotiate a new deal with Manchester United. The goalkeeper has two years, with an option for a third, left on his present deal.
His form has seen him tipped as the long-term successor to David de Gea as the first choice goalkeeper at Old Trafford.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has not ruled out the prospect of him challenging de Gea for the No 1 shirt next season.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at @sheffieldunited for the last two years. Winning promotion to the Premier League with my brothers and having the season we had this season is something I will never forget.
“I would like to thank the manager, my team-mates, the backroom staff and of course, the fans, who have been unbelievable towards to me. I will look back at the last two years as an important chapter in my career and more than anything, i’m grateful to have had the opportunity to learn and develop with such a class group of lads.
“I can’t wait for the next chapter! Once again, thank you for everything! Once a blade, always a blade!,” Henderson wrote in an Instagram post.
