Transfer Centre

Goalkeeper Ben Foster comes out of retirement to sign for Wrexham

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 23 March 2023

Wrexham announce that former England goalkeeper Ben Foster has ended his retirement to sign a short-term deal at the National League club.

Wrexham have announced the signing of veteran goalkeeper Ben Foster on a short-term contract.

Earlier in the season, it was claimed that each of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur were interested in tempting the 39-year-old out of retirement.

Foster officially hung up his gloves in September, and it appeared that he would stick to his initial decision on the back of neither of those transfers coming to fruition.

However, Wrexham revealed on Thursday that they had secured the services of the former England international on a deal until the end of the campaign.

The move is a reaction to Rob Lainton, who has recently held down a regular starting spot, being ruled out for the next six weeks with a knee injury.

Watford's Ben Foster during the warm up before the match, November 20, 2021 © Reuters

Foster is no stranger to the Racecourse Ground having represented the Welsh outfit when they were in League One during 2004-05.

On that occasion, Foster made 21 appearances for the Dragons, and his form led to him becoming a regular on loan at Watford during the following season having signed with Manchester United.

Speaking to the club's official website, Foster said: "I'm over the moon. I've been at the club an hour this morning and it seems a really nice place. Everyone is down to earth and the manager's top class.

"It's changed a lot since I was last here, but it's nice to be back and it's nice to be back as a player too. It will be interesting to see how my body feels after training today! I'm looking forward to getting started.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson before the match on February 7, 2023 © Reuters

"The first time I was here, it was genuinely the springboard to the rest of my career – on the back of the loan move, playing in the LDV Vans Trophy Final at the Millennium Stadium, I got my move to Manchester United at the start of the next season. It was absolutely bonkers!

"If you'd told me 18 years ago that I'd have gone on to have the career that I have had, I probably wouldn't have believed you to be honest so I do owe a lot to Wrexham."

Foster will now compete for a starting spot, but Mark Howard is expected to be named between the sticks when Wrexham play host to Oldham Athletic on Saturday.

Phil Parkinson's team currently sit three points clear at the top of the National League standings while also possessing a game in hand on second-placed Notts County.