Plymouth Argyle are in advanced negotiations to sign goalkeeper Archie Mair following his release from Norwich City, with the club optimistic of finalising a deal in the coming days.
The 24-year-old is a free agent after ending a six-year spell at Carrow Road without making a senior appearance for the Canaries. Despite the lack of first-team opportunities, Mair built up considerable experience through a string of loan moves, totalling 84 appearances across spells in both England and Scotland.
Last season, the former Scotland Under-21 international spent the year with Scottish Premiership side Motherwell, though he featured just once in the league—a 3-1 defeat to Hibernian.
Plymouth appear to be leading the race for Mair’s signature, with talks progressing positively as new manager Tom Cleverley looks to reshape the squad ahead of the 2025/26 League One campaign. Mair would be the first senior goalkeeping addition since Miron Muslic’s departure and could play a key role as Argyle aim to bounce back to the Championship at the first attempt.
Fresh Start Under Cleverley
Should the move be completed, Mair would become one of the first signings under the stewardship of Cleverley, who was appointed last month. The former Manchester United midfielder beat out competition from Jack Wilshere to land the role, following Muslic’s departure for Schalke after Argyle’s relegation.
Cleverley has already set about building a new-look coaching team, with Mark Bridge-Wilkinson, Paul McShane, and Jonathan Robinson all joining his backroom staff. Reinforcing the playing squad has now become the next focus, with the club understood to be prioritising defensive resilience and leadership at the back.
Mair, who began his professional career at Aberdeen before moving to Norwich in 2019, fits the profile of a young goalkeeper with development potential and prior exposure to competitive football through loan stints at clubs including King’s Lynn Town and Notts County.
His signing would address a key need for Plymouth following a season in which they struggled for consistency between the posts.
Writer’s View
Plymouth’s pursuit of Archie Mair is a smart, low-risk move that signals a shift in strategy under Tom Cleverley. While Mair’s senior appearances have been sporadic, his extensive loan experience shows he’s more than just a training ground keeper. At 24, he has both time and room to grow into a regular starter, particularly at League One level where clubs often thrive with hungry, developing talent rather than high-cost veterans.
With a full pre-season to settle under a new manager and coaching staff, Mair has the opportunity to kickstart his career and provide a solid foundation in goal. If Plymouth are to mount a serious promotion challenge, securing depth and quality in key positions—starting with goalkeeper—will be essential.
