Crystal Palace goalkeeper set for League One loan move

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Joe Whitworth is set to join League One side Exeter City this week, the South London Press understands.

The 20-year-old is now poised for his first senior loan spell away from Selhurst Park after picking up Palace’s U21 Player of the Season award last term.

U21 captain Whitworth also starred for the Eagles in their Premier League International Cup final win over PSV Jong at the end of last season.

He made his Premier League debut for the South Londoners at just 19 – becoming the club’s youngster goalkeeper in the top flight – in the 1-0 defeat at Brighton in March 2023. 

The stopper was called upon again in the absence of then-number one Vicente Guaita and Sam Johnstone to start the following week at Arsenal.

Whitworth looked set to head out on loan last summer, with a club competing in European football keen on the youngster, but a move failed to materialise with Palace keeping hold of Whitworth due to uncertainty around Guaita, who moved on to join Spanish side Celta Vigo.

He told our paper in May: “I have had two full seasons of U23s and two starts in the Premier League. 

“I have trained every day with the first team and the main thing for me now is to go and showcase myself to the world.

“Hopefully I can get out on loan and get some games in me.

“I’m looking forward to working hard during the off-season and getting ready to go and smash next season.”