Jack Butland - Player Profile | What can the Shot-Stopper Bring to United?

Manchester United announced the signing of goalkeeper Jack Butland in the January transfer window. The English shot-stopper has been brought in as a backup for David de Gea after Newcastle United recalled Martin Dubravka on the opening day of the winter transfer window.

The Red Devils signed Martin Dubravka on a season-long loan deal from Newcastle in the summer transfer window, but the Slovakian’s loan stint at Old Trafford was cut short. Dubravka had played just 2 games for United, in the EFL Cup, as Erik ten Hag has preferred David de Gea between the posts this season.

Jack Butland, Crystal Palace, Manchester United — Image Obtained Via Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images

Jack Butland joins Manchester United on a six-month loan from Premier League side Crystal Palace. The 29-year-old has warmed the bench for Patrick Vieira’s side this season. Butland was behind Vicente Guaita in the pecking order at Palace.

Upon completing his move to Old Trafford, Butland said:

“This is an amazing club and one that I am now proud to represent. I’m really looking forward to working with an unbelievable goalkeeping group, supporting each other every day to create the best training and playing environment for the team.”

John Murtough, the Manchester United football director, spoke about the transfer:

“Jack is an excellent goalkeeper with great experience throughout his career. His mentality and personality will be a real asset to our superb group of goalkeepers and the whole squad.”

“Jack joins David, Tom and our young keepers to form a strong group who will all support each other in creating an optimum training and playing environment. We’re all looking forward to welcoming him into the group.”

Man United have the option to extend Butland’s stay by an additional year. Reports suggest that there have also been talks over a long-term contract. Nevertheless, there seems to be little chance that the Englishman displaces De Gea in the starting line-up.

Player Career

Jack Butland was promoted to the Birmingham City first-team in 2010. At the age of 17, he was their third keeper behind Ben Foster and Colin Doyle. In 2011, the English keeper joined League Two side Cheltenham Town on loan. He played 24 games and affected 11 clean sheets (stats via Transfermarkt). He also made his England U-21 debut in 2011.

In the 2012-13 season, Butland was Birmingham’s first-choice shot-stopper. The Englishman played 46 games, amassing over 4000 minutes of game time. In January 2013, he joined Stoke City on a permanent transfer. However, he spent the remainder of the season on loan at Birmingham as part of the deal.

At the start of the 2013-14 season, the 29-year-old was again loaned out to the third division, this time to Barnsley City. As an urgent three-month loanee, he played 13 games, before joining Leeds United on another loan stint. He would become their starting keeper too, playing 16 games until the end of the season.

Official. Manchester United confirms the signing of Jack Butland on loan until June. #MUFC

Butland: “This is an amazing club and one that I am now proud to represent. I’m really looking forward to working with unbelievable goalkeeping group, supporting each other every day”. pic.twitter.com/UCsE03VHCg

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 6, 2023

After a one-month loan to Derby County in 2014, Butland finally returned to the Stoke City side. Following the sale of Asmir Begovic to Chelsea, the Englishman became Stoke’s first-choice keeper. Under Mark Hughes, Butland made 35 appearances across all competitions in the 2015-16 season.

For the next 4 seasons, Jack Butland remained the main man between the posts at Stoke City. In total, he accumulated 168 games, keeping 50 clean sheets (stats via Transfermarkt). In 2020, at the age of 27, the Englishman joined Premier League side Crystal Palace. However, the he has managed just 17 appearances across 3 seasons for the Eagles, mostly in cup competitions.

Jack Butland was also a part of the England contingent for the Euro 2012 and FIFA World Cup 2018 but made no appearances in either competition. For the National Team, the custodian has 5 clean sheets from 9 games. These include 1 World Cup qualifier, 1 Euro qualifier, and 6 friendly games.

Verdict

The signing of Jack Butland represents a low-risk, low-reward strategy for Manchester United. The Englishman is a safe bet as deputy to David de Gea between the posts. However, he is unlikely to mount a serious challenge for the role of a starter in the lineup.

The 29-year-old will be a reliable option if called upon but is unlikely to get too many games for the Red Devils. If United are still looking to upgrade on David de Gea, their search will have to continue.

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