Plymouth Argyle have confirmed that highly-rated goalkeeper Michael Cooper has penned a new contract with the club, extending his stay at Home Park until 2025.
The Argyle shot-stopper, who had just over a year left on his previous deal, has put pen to paper to remain with the club for an additional 12 months, taking his contract with the club up until 2025.
The 23-year-old has made a total of 29 appearances for Steven Schumacher’s side this season, keeping 11 clean sheets before his season was brought to an end after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in Argyle’s 1-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, in which Cooper was subbed off and replaced by Callum Burton after 34 minutes.
Cooper has been with the club since youth level and has gone on to make 142 appearances for the Pilgrims in total, with the goalkeeper being named Argyle’s Player of the Year for the 2021/22 season as well as being the joint winner of the League One Golden Glove.
Plymouth currently occupy second position in League One and in the automatic promotion places, sitting behind Sheffield Wednesday on goal difference having played two games more than the Owls, but the club sit five points clear of Ipswich Town in third and are very much in the driving seat in their quest for promotion to the Championship.
✍️ He's one of our own, and he's added another year.@Mike_coooper has signed a new deal, keeping him at @homeparkstadium until the summer of 2025.#pafc
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) March 8, 2023
Speaking to the club’s official website after putting pen to paper on a new deal at Home Park, Cooper has gone on to express his love for the club and how he is delighted to secure his future at the Green Army, despite missing the rest of the current season due to injury.
“I’m very happy,” said Cooper. “Putting another year on to my current contract after the past few weeks means a lot to me. I’m just really happy to get it done so quickly after the actual offer.
“It gives me a lot more security and the ability to focus on my rehab for the next few months without having to worry about contracts or anything like that. I was more than happy to get it done.
“It means a lot. I joined in 2009, it’s 2023 now – that length of time speaks volumes. You know the love I’ve got for the place, the fans, the staff. There are so many people that have been there for me throughout the years, all the way from under-9s until now. It’s been a mad journey so far and to extend my contract is a really nice feeling.”
Over the moon 😄 No brainer for me, looking forward to cracking on with my rehab and watching the boys do their thing, thanks for all the support green army, 14 years and counting ⚽️💚 #pafc https://t.co/e4O3nRknsf
— Mike Cooper (@Mike_coooper) March 8, 2023
Upon singing the new deal, Plymouth boss Steven Schumacher had nothing but praise for the 23-year-old shot-stopper and that tying Cooper down to a new deal at Home Park was very much a no brainer with 18 months remaining on his previous contract.
“It’s a no brainer for us,” expressed Schumacher. “He’s come through our Academy, the Academy has played a huge part in his development, and he has become one of our best players.
“Michael getting his injury when he did, he only had 18 months left on his contract. I felt it was good business for the club to secure that asset, and for Michael to be recognised. We wanted to look after him and help him in his recovery process.
“We know that when he is back, and he will be back soon, he’s the best young goalkeeper in the country.”
As well as words from Cooper and Schumacher, Plymouth’s Director of Football Neil Dewsnip has also gone on to say that nailing down Cooper to an extension makes sense for both parties and how the shot-stopper can be a role model for players currently at the club’s academy.
Dewsnip added: “We are very pleased to have agreed an extension with Michael – who is as good a shot stopper as I have seen at his age. More than that, though, he is a role model for our Academy players.
“It is the right thing for the club, and for Michael, to agree this extension. It makes sense for both parties and it speaks to the relationship between us that a deal could be reached so quickly.
“We will continue to provide the best possible support for Michael during his rehabilitation – which is going very well so far – and look forward to seeing him back on the pitch as soon as possible.”
Writers view
I make no secret to the fact that I’m a big fan of Michael Cooper and that Plymouth nailing him down to a new contract at the club is a sublime piece of business, especially as I feel Cooper is more than good enough to easily make that next step. It’s no doubt brilliant news for both the club and the fans.
In saying that however, there is still very much a good chance at present that Plymouth will be a Championship side next season, in which the 23-year-old will have a big part to play in if they was to go on and gain promotion.
For now however, the main focus for Cooper is to get back fit and back into the frame as quickly as possible, with back-up goalkeeper Callum Burton doing a stellar job at picking up where Cooper left off before his injury, even if that is likely to be in the short term.
