“The club’s only going in one direction” – Salford City sign goalkeeper Tom King

Salford City have announced the signing of goalkeeper Tom King on a two-year deal.

The 26-year-old joins the Ammies after leaving Newport County at the end of last season where he made a total of 52 appearances and helped the club to the League Two play-off final in May.

Internationally, King has represented England Under-16s and Under-17s before being called up to the Wales senior squad for the first time in November 2019 and most recently in March 2021.

King arrives at the club as a replacement for Václav Hladký who recently left Salford to join Ipswich Town after a successful season at the Peninsula Stadium.

👑 The King has arrived 👑

Welcome to the Club, @tomking_!#WeAreSalford 🦁🔴 pic.twitter.com/YshqFecnnW

— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) July 7, 2021

On joining Salford, King said: “It’s been something that’s been talked about now for a couple of days, going to and from speaking to the Chairman and the Manager, and yeah I’m just buzzing to get it over the line!

“If you look at the signings the Manager’s made this summer, the club’s only going in one direction so it’s a real privilege that they contacted me.

“I had a similar situation when I signed at Newport with Joe Day leaving at the time, he won goalie of the season and the Golden Glove similar to Vac [Václav Hladký] so it’s a challenge I’m going to relish, and as you say big boots to fill, but hopefully I can do that position justice and continue where he left off.

“Any goalkeeper’s main quality should be shot stopping, I feel like I’m a good shot stopper, I communicate well with the back four and other lads in the team. I’ll let the fans decide what they think I’m good at by the end of the season but that’s where I see myself and hopefully I can add to the team.”

On securing the signing of Tom King, manager Gary Bowyer added: “Tom is a great signing for us, he is a great character who has loads of potential, and we feel he will thrive in our environment.”

King is the second player to arrive from Newport County this summer after Liam Shepard also joined Salford earlier in the transfer window.