From an accidental goalkeeper to a Premier League star
In short: He didn't even play soccer until age 14, stepping into the net only because a teammate was injured. Today, Matt Turner is a decorated international goalkeeper who has conquered the MLS, the Premier League, and the CONCACAF stage.
Matt Turner’s professional trajectory is a study in rapid ascent. A former baseball and basketball player from New Jersey, Turner only took up soccer at 14 to maintain fitness. His entry into the position was purely circumstantial: during high school tryouts, he stepped into the goal because the team's only other goalkeeper was injured. This accidental start led him to Fairfield University, where he recorded 21 shutouts during his collegiate career.
His professional path was far from guaranteed. After going undrafted in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, Turner secured a contract with the New England Revolution following a successful preseason trial. He eventually rose to become the club's primary goalkeeper, earning the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2021. His performances earned him high-profile moves to the English Premier League, first with Arsenal in 2022—for a fee reported between $6 million and $10 million—and later with Nottingham Forest in 2023 for approximately £10 million.
On the international stage, Turner has been a cornerstone of the United States men's national team since his 2021 debut. He played a vital role in winning the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the CONCACAF Nations League titles in 2023 and 2024. His ability to perform under pressure is evidenced by his penalty-saving record, including a standout performance in the 2023 Gold Cup quarterfinals where he stopped two penalties to secure a victory against Canada. By the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, he had become a mainstay, playing every minute of the tournament for the American squad.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Matt Turner (soccer)
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