AFC Wimbledon have announced the signing of goalkeeper Nathan Bishop from Sunderland on a three-year deal, as per the club’s official website.
Who Is Nathan Bishop?
Bishop started his career at Southend United and he made 39 appearances in League One for the Shrimpers as a youngster.
His impressive performances as a rookie saw him move to Premier League giants Manchester United for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2020.
He never made a senior appearance for the Red Devils, spending the 2021/22 season on loan with Mansfield Town.
The Englishman impressed in League Two with the Stags, playing every minute of football in the league, conceding just 52 goals whilst keeping 14 clean sheets.
Unfortunately, Bishop was not allowed to continue building momentum in the next couple of years.
He spent the 2022/23 season at Manchester United as a reserve goalkeeper, playing nine games for the club’s youth team.
The following season saw him move to Sunderland and play just twice for the Black Cats.
At the start of last season, he joined Wycombe Wanderers on loan in League One but again failed to establish himself as the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper.
The end of the winter transfer window saw him get recalled and sent to Cambridge United, for whom he made 14 appearances in the final weeks of the campaign.
AFC Wimbledon’s History With Goalkeepers
Over the past few seasons, the Wombles have built up somewhat of a reputation as an excellent place for goalkeepers to develop.
Last season, their first-choice goalkeeper was Owen Goodman, who is just 21 years of age. He prevented more goals than 95.7% of League Two goalkeepers and kept more clean sheets than any of his peers.
In the 2023/24 season, Alex Bass was on loan at the Cherry Red Records Stadium. He kept 16 clean sheets in 44 league games and has recently signed for League One side Peterborough United.
Nik Tzanev was the number one goalkeeper in the 22/23 campaign and he kept 13 clean sheets in 39 league games.
A key part of this good record with goalkeepers is AFC Wimbledon’s goalkeeping coach Ashley “Bayzo” Bayes. He has been with the club for over 10 years and has now been part of two promotions from League Two.
Bayes’s influence was something that was specifically highlighted by Bishop. He said:
“The manager, Bayzo the staff and players were a massive part of me joining this fantastic club. Then I heard about the fans – I am delighted to be here and cannot wait to give everything to the people who built this place brick by brick. Up the Wombles!”.
Writer’s View
Some may think that it is a bit of a risk for a newly promoted club to sign a goalkeeper who has not yet completed a full season in League One, but it is the way that Wimbledon operate.
Johnnie Jackson will need Bayes to get the best out of Bishop as his teams have been built on a foundation of defensive solidity.
The 25-year-old is an extremely talented goalkeeper and he has now got an opportunity to reignite his promising career.
