Luke Southwood

Luke Kevin Southwood (born 6 December 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Blackpool. Born in England, he plays for the Northern Ireland national team.

Club career Reading On 11 May 2018, Reading announced that they had offered a new contract to Luke Southwood, with a new two-year contract being confirmed as signed on 2 July 2018.

On 7 May 2021, Reading announced that Southwood had signed a new two-year contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2023.

Loans On 4 August 2017, Southwood joined Bath City on a six-month loan deal, which was extended until the end of the season on 3 January 2018. He was awarded player of the season after an outstanding year.

On 24 December 2018, Southwood joined Eastleigh on an initial one-month loan deal, with the loan being extended until the end of the season on 24 January 2019. Eastleigh managed to get to the semi-finals of the National League play-offs with Southwood playing a key part in that, also getting player of the month in April.

On 1 August 2019, Southwood joined Hamilton Academical on loan until 5 January 2020. On 21 January 2020, Southwood signed a new contract with Reading until the summer of 2021, and then returned to Hamilton Academical on loan until the end of the season.

On 22 July 2022, Southwood joined Cheltenham Town on a season-long loan deal. During that time he kept sixteen clean sheets in league one and helped them to a 16th place finish.

On 17 May 2023, Reading announced that Southwood would leave the club at the end of his contract.

Cheltenham Town On 11 July 2023, Southwood returned to Cheltenham Town on a permanent one-year deal. On 22 May 2024, the club announced he had rejected a new contract and would be leaving the club.

Bolton Wanderers On 21 June 2024, Southwood signed a two-year contract with EFL League One club Bolton Wanderers. Across the 2024–25 season, he competed with Nathan Baxter for the position of first-choice goalkeeper, breaking into the team in January 2025 where he remained following the appointment of Steven Schumacher as new head coach before once again losing his place in March.

Bristol Rovers On 6 July 2025, Southwood signed for League Two club Bristol Rovers on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee. The transfer saw him reunite with manager Darrell Clarke and goalkeeping coach James Bittner, whom Southwood had played under at Cheltenham Town. He was named as the club's vice-captain ahead of the opening match of the season. Having spent the first half of the season as the club's first choice goalkeeper, he was dropped for Brad Young in January 2026, not featuring again for the remainder of the season. He was made available for a permanent or loan departure at the end of the 2025–26 season.

Blackpool On 11 August 2026, Southwood signed for League One club Blackpool for an undisclosed fee, signing a one-year contract with an option for another year.

International career Southwood made his debut for the England under-19 team, play the first 45minutes in a 1–0 defeat to Mexico in June 2016.

Southwood was selected for the England under-20 team in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup and was an unused substitute in the final where England beat Venezuela 1–0.

In November 2021, Southwood was called up to the Northern Ireland national team for the first time, for whom he qualified for through a grandmother. He debuted with Northern Ireland in a friendly 3–1 win over Luxembourg on 25 March 2022.

Career statistics Club

International

Honours England U20 FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2017