From striker to international keeper: the unconventional path of Lawrence Vigouroux
In short: Most goalkeepers are born to the goalposts, but Lawrence Vigouroux began his journey as a striker. His path to the international stage for Chile was marked by a series of loans, a brief stint in the Chilean Primera División, and a remarkable turnaround at Swansea City.
Vigouroux's career is defined by a late-stage positional shift. Growing up in Kentish Town, he initially played as a striker before transitioning to goalkeeper. This unconventional start eventually led him to a professional career that spanned the English football pyramid, from non-league side Hyde to the EFL Championship. After being released by Brentford in 2012, he joined the Tottenham Hotspur Academy, signing his first professional contract in June 2013. He first signed a professional deal with Tottenham in 2013 alongside Shaq Coulthirst. His early career included a brief month-long loan to Hyde. During that time, he debuted in an FA Cup match against Wrexham.
His journey was rarely a straight line. He spent years navigating various clubs, including a trial and subsequent loan at Swindon Town, where he became a fan favorite and won Player of the Season in 2016–17. His career even took him abroad to Chile in 2019 to join Everton from Viña del Mar, though he never played a match there due to a tournament cancellation caused by social unrest. He also spent a successful loan spell in the League of Ireland with Waterford in 2018. He joined Liverpool in 2014 after a successful trial. He also played for Leyton Orient, where he won three consecutive Player of the Season awards. A racial abuse incident at Port Vale in 2021 led to a fan's ban.
Vigouroux eventually found his footing at Swansea City, where he achieved significant milestones. In 2025, he kept a fourth consecutive clean sheet—a feat the club hadn't seen since 2008—and was named the club's Men's Best Newcomer. Despite being eligible for England, Chile, and Jamaica, he pledged his allegiance to Chile, making his senior international debut in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Brazil on September 4, 2025. He signed a three-year deal with Burnley in 2023 before moving to Swansea. He was part of the 2013 South American Youth Championship. He once mentioned he would have been a builder if not for football.
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