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Sam Johnstone
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Sam Johnstone
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Samuel Luke Johnstone (born 25 March 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as goalkeeper for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers and the England national team.

Key Information

A product of the Manchester United academy, Johnstone spent time on loan with Oldham Athletic, Scunthorpe United, Walsall, Yeovil Town, Doncaster Rovers, Preston North End and Aston Villa, before his transfer to West Bromwich Albion in 2018. He was an England youth international, winning caps at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-20 levels.

Early life

[edit]

Samuel Luke Johnstone[3] was born on 25 March 1993[4] in Preston, Lancashire.[5] His father is Glenn Johnstone, a former professional footballer.[6][7] Johnstone's younger brother, Max, joined Manchester United as a youth-team player in September 2016.[8]

Club career

[edit]

Manchester United

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Johnstone joined Manchester United at academy level from Chorley-based club Euxton Villa, after being spotted by club scout Colin Fairhurst.[9] In the 2010–11 season, he was first-choice goalkeeper in the academy, after sharing the duties the previous season.[citation needed]

On 26 July 2011, Johnstone joined League One club Oldham Athletic on loan, as both of their first-choice goalkeepers were sidelined by injury.[10] On 9 September, Johnstone joined League One club Scunthorpe United on a one-month loan after their first-choice goalkeeper Josh Lillis suffered a long-term injury.[11] The following day, he made his debut in a 1–1 home draw against Sheffield United.[12] On 19 October, Johnstone dislocated his finger during a training session, forcing Scunthorpe to search for an emergency goalkeeper once again.[13] On 10 November, Scunthorpe extended the loan until 9 December,[14] which was then extended to 10 January 2012.[15]

On 20 March 2013, Manchester United agreed for Johnstone to spend the rest of the 2012–13 season on loan to League One club Walsall.[16] He kept consecutive clean sheets in his first few matches and was first-choice goalkeeper during his loan. On 17 August, Johnstone was loaned to Championship club Yeovil Town for a period of three months.[17] Johnstone made his debut on the same day in a 2–0 loss to Burnley,[18] but it was later confirmed that he had suffered a finger injury prior to his debut and returned to Manchester United for treatment.[19]

2014–2017

[edit]

On 31 January 2014, Johnstone was loaned to Championship club Doncaster Rovers for four weeks.[20] With the first-choice goalkeeper Ross Turnbull injured, Johnstone made his debut the following day at the Keepmoat Stadium against Middlesbrough.[21] On 4 April, Johnstone agreed a loan extension until the end of the 2013–14 season.[22] On 27 October, Johnstone again joined Doncaster Rovers, with the club now in League One, on loan, initially until January 2015.[23]

On 12 January 2015, Johnstone joined his hometown club, Preston North End of League One, on loan until the end of the 2014–15 season.[24] On 25 May, Johnstone kept a clean sheet in the 2015 League One play-off final as Preston won promotion to the Championship with a 4–0 win over Swindon Town at Wembley Stadium.[25] On Manchester United's pre-season tour of the United States in July 2015, Johnstone played as second-choice goalkeeper ahead of Anders Lindegaard, covering for David de Gea while the Spaniard recovered from a knock. He started in the victories over Club América and San Jose Earthquakes (playing the entire game) and came on as a second-half substitute against Barcelona in a 3–1 victory.[citation needed]

After rumours of De Gea's potential transfer Real Madrid caused the Spaniard to be dropped from the Manchester United squad, Johnstone was named on the bench behind Sergio Romero for the first game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur.[26] After De Gea returned to the United first-team, following the collapse of his move, Johnstone failed to make the bench again in 2015.[citation needed]

On 31 December 2015, he re-signed for Preston on an initial 28-day loan, after Sunderland recalled Jordan Pickford on the same day.[27] He made his first appearance of his second stint at Preston in a 2–1 home win over Rotherham United on 2 January 2016.[28]

On 16 October 2016, Johnstone extended his contract at Manchester United until June 2018.[29]

Loans to Aston Villa

[edit]
Johnstone playing for Aston Villa in 2018

On 5 January 2017, Johnstone joined Championship club Aston Villa on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.[30] He made his debut on 8 January 2017, in an FA Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.[31] During the period of this loan spell, he kept more clean sheets in the Championship than any other goalkeeper.[32] In July 2017, he returned to Aston Villa on a loan deal until the end of the 2017–18 season.[33]

West Bromwich Albion

[edit]

On 3 July 2018, Johnstone signed a four-year contract with newly relegated Championship club West Bromwich Albion, for a transfer fee reported by BBC Sport to be an initial £6.5 million.[34] He was part of the West Brom team that lost to Aston Villa in the EFL Championship play-off semi-finals on penalties in May 2019. However, the following season, Sam Johnstone helped the club gain automatic promotion to the Premier League for the 2020–21 season. Despite some criticism from fans, Johnstone kept his place as West Brom's first-choice goalkeeper and went on to have a great season despite the club being relegated that year. Sam Johnstone produced a number of 'world class' saves throughout the season, securing vital points for the club on numerous occasions. On 15 December 2020, Johnstone produced two stoppage-time saves to deny İlkay Gündoğan and Raheem Sterling to secure a 1–1 draw for the club away at the home of future Premier League Champions, Manchester City.[35] Johnstone also played well against former club Manchester United and reigning champions Liverpool, securing 1–1 draws against both.[36] His fine form resulted in a trio of club awards at the end of the season, winning the Supporter's Player of the Year, Player's Player of the year and PFA Community Champion Award for his work off the field.[37] West Brom were relegated again after the 2020–21 season, and West Ham United approached them with a £10 million offer for Johnstone, which was rejected.[38] With the club stuck mid-table in the Championship, Johnstone didn't extend his contract.[39]

Crystal Palace

[edit]

On 21 June 2022, Johnstone agreed to join Crystal Palace on a free transfer as backup to Vicente Guaita.[40] He made his debut in a 2–0 EFL Cup win against Oxford United on 23 August.[41] He made his first Premier League appearance for Palace against Leeds United on 9 April 2023, and was praised for his performance in the 5–1 win.[42] Coincidentally, the last time Palace had scored five goals in a game had been against Johnstone's West Brom in December 2020.[42]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

[edit]

On 30 August 2024, Wolverhampton Wanderers signed Johnstone on a four-year deal for a reported fee of £10 million.[43][44]

International career

[edit]
Johnstone playing for England U19 in 2012

Johnstone was a part of the victorious England under-17 squad at the 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[45] He made his debut for the England under-19 team against Slovakia in September 2010.[46]

On 28 May 2013, he was named in the 21-man squad for England under-20s at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[47] He made his debut on 23 June in England's first match of the tournament, a 2–2 draw with Iraq.[48] He played in England's three matches at the tournament as they were eliminated at the group stage.[48]

On 18 March 2021, Johnstone received his first call-up to the England senior team when he was named in the 26-man squad for their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland.[49] He was named in the 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020, along with fellow goalkeepers Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson,[50] and made his debut on 6 June in England's final pre-tournament friendly, a 1–0 win over Romania at the Riverside Stadium.[51]

Johnstone was not included in England's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup but was recalled for the team's UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia in June 2023.[52] On 13 October 2023, he made his first international appearance in two years, keeping his fourth clean sheet in four caps as England beat Australia 1–0 at Wembley Stadium.[53]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 5 October 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester United 2011–12[54] Premier League 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012–13[55] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2013–14[56] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014–15[57] Premier League 0 0 — 0 0 — — 0 0
2015–16[28] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2016–17[58] Premier League 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Scunthorpe United (loan) 2011–12[54] League One 12 0 0 0 — — 1[a] 0 13 0
Walsall (loan) 2012–13[55] League One 7 0 — — — — 7 0
Yeovil Town (loan) 2013–14[56] Championship 1 0 — 0 0 — — 1 0
Doncaster Rovers (loan) 2013–14[56] Championship 18 0 — — — — 18 0
2014–15[57] League One 10 0 3 0 — — 1[a] 0 14 0
Total 28 0 3 0 — — 1 0 32 0
Preston North End (loan) 2014–15[57] League One 22 0 — — — 3[b] 0 25 0
2015–16[28] Championship 4 0 0 0 — — — 4 0
Total 26 0 0 0 — — 3 0 29 0
Aston Villa (loan) 2016–17[58] Championship 21 0 1 0 — — — 22 0
2017–18[59] Championship 45 0 0 0 0 0 — 3[c] 0 48 0
Total 66 0 1 0 0 0 — 3 0 70 0
West Bromwich Albion 2018–19[60] Championship 46 0 0 0 0 0 — 2[c] 0 48 0
2019–20[61] Championship 46 0 0 0 0 0 — — 46 0
2020–21[62] Premier League 37 0 0 0 0 0 — — 37 0
2021–22[63] Championship 36 0 0 0 0 0 — — 36 0
Total 165 0 0 0 0 0 — 2 0 167 0
Crystal Palace 2022–23[64] Premier League 9 0 0 0 2 0 — — 11 0
2023–24[65] Premier League 20 0 1 0 2 0 — — 23 0
Total 29 0 1 0 4 0 — — 34 0
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2024–25[66] Premier League 7 0 3 0 0 0 — — 10 0
2025–26[67] Premier League 3 0 0 0 2 0 — — 5 0
Total 10 0 3 0 2 0 — — 15 0
Career total 344 0 8 0 6 0 0 0 10 0 368 0
  1. ^ a b Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in League One play-offs
  3. ^ a b Appearances in Championship play-offs

International

[edit]
As of match played 13 October 2023[68]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
England 2021 3 0
2023 1 0
Total 4 0

Honours

[edit]

Preston North End

West Bromwich Albion

England U17

England

Individual

  • West Bromwich Albion Supporters' Player of the Year: 2020–21[37]
  • West Bromwich Albion Players' Player of the Year: 2020–21[37]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Sam Johnstone

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Samuel Luke Johnstone (born 25 March 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Wolverhampton Wanderers. He has earned four caps for the national team, with his senior debut coming in 2021. Born in , Johnstone is noted for his shot-stopping ability and has amassed over 350 senior appearances across various English leagues. Johnstone developed through the Manchester United academy, where he honed his skills before embarking on a series of loan moves to gain first-team experience, including stints at Scunthorpe United, Yeovil Town, Doncaster Rovers, and a longer spell at Aston Villa from 2016 to 2018. In 2018, he joined West Bromwich Albion on a permanent basis, establishing himself as the club's primary and playing a pivotal role in their promotion to the via the in 2020. During West Brom's campaign, he won the club's Players' Player of the Season, Supporters' Player of the Season, and Junior Baggies Player of the Season awards, reflecting his 38 league appearances and three clean sheets amid a challenging relegation battle. In July 2022, Johnstone transferred to on a free transfer, where he served as the first-choice for two seasons, appearing in 34 matches across all competitions before injuries impacted his availability in 2023–24. On 30 August 2024, transfer deadline day, he signed with Wolverhampton Wanderers for £10 million on a four-year contract, providing depth behind in the . In the 2025/26 season, he has established himself in the Wolves squad, earning high ratings in the . Internationally, Johnstone represented at youth levels, captaining the under-17 team to victory in the 2010 , and was included in the provisional 33-man squad for , though he did not feature in the tournament.

Early life and youth career

Early life

Samuel Luke Johnstone was born on 25 March 1993 in Preston, Lancashire, England. His father, Glenn Johnstone, was a former professional goalkeeper who made 10 appearances for Preston North End during the 1992–93 season. Johnstone was raised in the nearby town of Leyland, part of the Preston area, in a family deeply connected to football; his , Max, also developed an early interest in the as a . From childhood, Johnstone displayed a strong passion for football within Preston's local environment, where he initially played positions like centre-back or striker owing to his height, though his father's career provided natural exposure to the game without direct pressure to follow suit as a . The Johnstone family's longstanding ties to professional football in the region motivated his budding interest in sports during his early years.

Youth career at Manchester United

Johnstone joined the Manchester United academy in 2003 at the age of 10, having developed his goalkeeping skills locally at Euxton Villa JFC from the age of eight, influenced by his father Glenn, a former professional goalkeeper who trained with him extensively. He progressed steadily through the club's age-group teams, benefiting from the academy's structured development program that emphasized technical and tactical growth alongside senior influences. Under the coaching of , who led the youth setup from 2005 to 2016 and instilled a strong sense of club identity and professionalism, Johnstone honed his position-specific skills, including distribution and command of the . By his mid-teens, he was integrating elements of modern goalkeeping, such as footwork drills borrowed from outfield training, which McGuinness introduced to the group. In the 2010–11 season, Johnstone established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper for the under-18s, playing a pivotal role in their successful campaign that culminated in winning the , defeating Sheffield United 6–3 on aggregate in the final (3–2 in the first leg and 4–1 in the second leg). During this period, he also transitioned to the reserve team, making appearances in the Premier Reserve League, including matches against Manchester City reserves, as part of his preparation for senior-level demands. This progression marked his readiness for higher competition within the academy structure, though opportunities remained limited by the presence of established first-team goalkeepers.

Club career

Manchester United (2001–2018)

Johnstone joined the Manchester United academy in 2001 at the age of eight, progressing through the youth system to become the first-choice goalkeeper for the under-18s and contributing to the team's victory in 2011. Despite showing potential as a reliable shot-stopper with strong command of his area, he faced stiff competition from senior goalkeepers such as and , positioning him as a third-choice option and prompting a series of moves to lower-league clubs for . These loans allowed him to accumulate over 150 senior appearances across League One and the , honing his distribution and reflexes while serving as backup at . To build match fitness and experience, Johnstone was loaned out nine times between 2011 and 2018, primarily to EFL clubs where he often featured as the starting . His early loans focused on League One sides, providing exposure to competitive football amid United's demanding schedule. Notable spells included a four-month stint at Scunthorpe United in 2011–12, where he made 12 appearances, and a season-ending to in 2013, during which he played seven games and kept two clean sheets.
ClubPeriodAppearancesCompetitionKey Notes
Scunthorpe UnitedSep 2011 – Jan 201212League OneDebut in 1–0 win over Rochdale; established as regular starter.
WalsallMar 2013 – May 20137League OneJoined mid-season; helped secure survival with solid performances.
Yeovil TownAug 2013 – Nov 20131ChampionshipThree-month loan cut short by injury; debuted in 2–0 loss to Burnley.
Doncaster RoversNov 2013 – May 201418ChampionshipMid-season loan; provided stability in relegation fight.
Doncaster RoversOct 2014 – Jan 201515League OneSecond spell; extended initially; 10 league apps plus cups.
Preston North EndJan 2015 – May 201522League OneKey in play-off campaign; started final win over Swindon Town (4–0).
Preston North EndDec 2015 – Jan 20164ChampionshipShort emergency loan; limited appearances.
Aston VillaJan 2017 – May 201721ChampionshipEmergency loan; debuted in FA Cup third round; 15 league apps.
Aston VillaJul 2017 – May 201845ChampionshipSeason-long; Player of the Month award in December 2017.</PROBLEMATIC_TEXT>
In his final years at United, Johnstone remained on the fringes of the first team, occasionally named on the substitutes' bench for matches—such as against Tottenham Hotspur in August 2015—but never made a competitive appearance for the senior squad. He did feature in pre-season friendlies, including a 3–1 victory over in 2015, showcasing his potential in non-competitive settings. On 30 June 2018, after 17 years with the club, Johnstone was released as a , paving the way for his permanent transfer to West Bromwich Albion.

West Bromwich Albion (2018–2022)

On 3 July 2018, Johnstone completed a permanent transfer to West Bromwich Albion from Manchester United for a reported fee of £6.5 million, signing a four-year contract. His previous loan spell at local rivals Aston Villa the season prior helped ease his adaptation to the West Midlands club and the environment. Johnstone quickly established himself as West Brom's first-choice goalkeeper during the 2018–19 season, making 46 appearances and keeping 9 clean sheets as the team finished ninth. His consistent performances contributed to a solid defensive record, with the club conceding 64 goals overall in league play. In the 2019–20 season, Johnstone played a pivotal role in West Brom's promotion to the , appearing in all 46 matches and recording 14 clean sheets as the team secured second place for automatic promotion. His shot-stopping and distribution were instrumental in maintaining a league-low goals conceded total of 45. Following promotion, Johnstone remained the undisputed number one in the campaign, starting all 37 matches but unable to prevent relegation as West Brom finished 19th with just 26 points. In 2021–22, he featured in 36 games before an sidelined him in April, contributing to the team's mid-table finish in 10th place. Over his four years at West Brom, Johnstone made 167 appearances across all competitions before departing on a free transfer at the end of his contract in 2022.

Crystal Palace (2022–2024)

On 1 July 2022, Crystal Palace announced the signing of Sam Johnstone on a free transfer from West Bromwich Albion, with the goalkeeper agreeing to a four-year contract until the summer of 2026. Initially positioned as backup to Vicente Guaita, Johnstone made his debut for the club in a 2–0 EFL Cup victory over Oxford United on 31 August 2022. His experience from West Brom's defensive setups contributed to Palace's goalkeeping depth during the early phase of his tenure. During the 2022–23 Premier League season, Johnstone featured in 9 matches, recording 3 clean sheets and helping secure a mid-table 11th-place finish for , who conceded 61 goals overall. He gradually earned more opportunities as Guaita's form fluctuated, providing solid shot-stopping and distribution that supported the team's transition play. In November 2023, Johnstone extended his contract by one year to 2027, reflecting his growing importance as the first-choice goalkeeper heading into the following campaign. Johnstone's role expanded significantly in the 2023–24 , where he started 20 matches, achieving 6 clean sheets and making key saves that aided Palace's 12th-place standing despite a goals-against tally of 60. His consistency was interrupted in late 2024 during an international duty, when he sustained an injury on 25 March requiring on 27 March, sidelining him for the remainder of the season and causing him to miss Euro 2024. Over his Palace spell, Johnstone amassed 29 appearances with 9 clean sheets in total, bolstering the club's defensive stability in the top flight. Johnstone departed on 30 August 2024, transferring to Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported £10 million fee after expressing a desire to leave in search of regular playing time. During his two years at , he made 34 appearances across all competitions, establishing himself as a reliable custodian despite injury setbacks.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (2024–present)

On 30 August 2024, Wolverhampton Wanderers signed Johnstone from for a transfer fee of £10 million, with the agreeing to a four-year until June 2028. Johnstone made his debut for Wolves the following day, starting in a 1–1 draw away to Nottingham Forest on 1 September 2024. He initially served as a rotational option behind established José Sá during the 2024–25 season, featuring in seven matches overall, including increased starts from early 2025 amid team needs. In those appearances, Johnstone recorded 17 saves, contributing to Wolves' efforts to maintain defensive solidity. Entering the 2025–26 season, Johnstone's role evolved into a more prominent one, with seven appearances by mid-November 2025 (as of 17 November 2025), including several high-save performances that earned him a nomination for the league's Save of the Month award in . These outings, where he conceded 14 goals across 630 minutes, have helped anchor Wolves in a mid-table position, with his shot-stopping proving crucial in tight fixtures. His prior experience in Premier League survival battles at has aided a swift adaptation to Wolves' high-pressing defensive style under the new Rob Edwards, appointed in November 2025 following the sacking of Vítor Pereira. The signing has intensified competition with Sá for the starting spot, particularly after the Portuguese keeper's inconsistent early form in 2025–26 allowed Johnstone to establish himself as the preferred choice by . Johnstone has credited proactive integration efforts, such as early training sessions upon arrival, for building team rapport and securing his position.

International career

Youth international career

Johnstone began his youth international career with at under-16 level, earning his sole cap in November 2008 during a 2–0 victory over in the tournament. He advanced to the under-17 team in February 2009, accumulating 14 caps through June 2010, with his debut coming in friendlies against and . Johnstone featured in the qualifying and finals in both 2009 and 2010, serving as the starting for the latter tournament, where defeated 2–1 in the final to claim the title. At under-19 level, Johnstone secured 13 caps between September 2010 and July 2012, debuting in a 2–0 win over . He started as in the , helping advance to the semi-finals with victories in the group stage and quarter-finals before a 1–2 loss to . Johnstone earned three caps for the under-20 side in June 2013 at the in , starting in group-stage matches against (2–2 draw), (1–2 loss), and (0–1 loss), as exited at the group stage. Across all youth levels, Johnstone amassed 31 caps, with his progression bolstered by consistent performances in Manchester United's youth setup.

Senior international career

Johnstone received his first call-up to the England senior team in March 2021, named in the 26-man squad for qualifiers against , , and , following impressive performances for West Bromwich Albion in the season. He remained an unused substitute in those matches but earned his debut on 6 June 2021 in a friendly against at , starting and keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory. Johnstone secured three more caps in 2021 and 2023, establishing himself as a reliable third-choice behind . He started in both qualifiers against on 5 September (4–0 win, clean sheet) and 9 October (5–0 win, clean sheet), contributing to England's dominant qualifying campaign. His most recent appearance came on 13 October 2023 in a friendly against , where he again started and maintained a clean sheet in a 1–0 win, bringing his total to four caps—all without conceding a goal. Johnstone was initially included in England's squads, such as the May 2023 call-up for matches against and , but suffered an elbow injury during training in March 2024 that required and ruled him out for the remainder of the 2023–24 season, ultimately excluding him from the final tournament in . Despite the setback, he has remained in contention as a backup option, with reports in October 2025 highlighting his resurgence at Wanderers and aspirations for a role in the qualifiers. However, he was not included in the England for the November 2025 qualifiers against and .

Playing style

Goalkeeping attributes

Sam Johnstone is renowned for his shot-stopping prowess, particularly in high-pressure scenarios, where he has demonstrated strong shot-stopping in select seasons, such as a 76.5% save percentage in 2022–23, though his career average stands at 68.2% as of November 2025. In the 2022–23 season with , he achieved a 76.5% save rate, making 25 saves across his appearances while conceding 10 goals, highlighting his effectiveness in preventing . His reflexes enable quick reactions to close-range efforts, as evidenced by his standout performances against intricate attacks, where he excels at scrambling to block shots from forwards' feet. Johnstone's strength in one-on-one situations stems from his sharpness across the goal, allowing him to make eye-catching interventions that have marked him as one of the league's top performers in this area during his time at West Bromwich Albion. In terms of distribution, Johnstone possesses reliable abilities with both long kicks and throws, contributing to his teams' build-up play from the back. During the 2022–23 campaign, he recorded a 73.9% pass completion rate, including effective long-range distributions that help transition play forward. His proficiency in this aspect has been noted as a key attribute, enabling precise deliveries to players under pressure. Physically, Johnstone stands at 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m), providing a commanding presence in goal at age 32. Despite his height, he exhibits notable agility, moving quickly off his line to intercept threats and demonstrating reflexes suited to his frame. His command of the is enhanced by frequent touches outside the box, allowing him to sweep up loose balls and assert dominance in aerial and ground duels.

Reception and comparisons

Sam Johnstone has received widespread praise from managers and analysts for his shot-stopping ability and consistency during his time at Albion. England manager commended Johnstone's strong performances in the 2020-21 season, which contributed to his inclusion in the national squad. Similarly, West Brom manager described Johnstone as a pivotal figure in the club's 2019-20 promotion campaign, hailing him as the best shot-stopper in the league and crediting his clean sheets for securing automatic promotion. Critics have pointed to occasional lapses in Johnstone's distribution under pressure, particularly during West Brom's 2020-21 relegation battle, where risky build-up play led to errors and fan frustration. Since 2023, Johnstone has faced challenges with injuries, including a calf issue in December 2023 that sidelined him for over a month, a severe elbow injury in March requiring surgery and causing him to miss the remainder of the season and Euro , and subsequent groin and illness problems in the 2024-25 campaign, totaling over 200 days missed. Analysts have drawn comparisons between Johnstone and , noting similarities in their shot-stopping prowess and international status, though Johnstone is seen as less vocal in leadership compared to the Everton . Earlier in his career, around 2018 during his loan spells and youth development, Johnstone was likened to a young for his quick reflexes, a resemblance bolstered by years of training alongside the Spaniard at Manchester United. Johnstone's overall reputation stands as a successful transition from EFL journeyman—via loans at clubs like Yeovil Town and Preston North End—to a reliable and goalkeeper, exemplified by his 2024 move to Wanderers, which has been viewed as a career resurgence after limited play at Crystal Palace. Following limited appearances in the 2024–25 season due to , Johnstone established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper at Wolves in the 2025–26 season, earning high ratings (7.5 average as of October 2025) and renewed hopes of an recall. In the 2025–26 season, Johnstone has continued as Wolves' first-choice goalkeeper, recording a 61.1% save percentage over 7 matches as of November 2025, while having missed a total of 232 days due to injuries since 2023.

Career statistics

Club statistics

Sam Johnstone has made a total of 377 appearances in domestic club competitions as of 17 November 2025, with 358 in league matches and 19 in cup competitions.

Appearances by club (all domestic competitions)

ClubYearsLeague / Other CupsTotal
Scunthorpe United (loan)2011–20121200012
(loan)2012–201370007
Yeovil Town (loan)2013–201410001
Doncaster Rovers (loan)2013–20141800018
Doncaster Rovers (loan)2014–20151030013
Preston North End (loan)2014–20152200022
Preston North End2015–20161500015
Aston Villa (loan)2016–20172110022
Aston Villa (loan)2017–20184500348
West Bromwich Albion2018–20194600248
West Bromwich Albion2019–20204600046
West Bromwich Albion2020–20213700037
West Bromwich Albion2021–20223600036
2022–2023902011
2023–20242012023
Wolverhampton Wanderers2024–2025730010
Wolverhampton Wanderers2025–202670209
Career total358865377

Performance metrics by club (league matches only, as of 17 November 2025)

ClubAppearancesGoals concededClean sheetsSaves
Scunthorpe United1219230
75332
1202
Doncaster Rovers2833791
Preston North End37431880
Aston Villa666528179
West Bromwich Albion16521444472
2937966
Wolverhampton Wanderers1431047
Career total (league)358449111999
In the 2025–26 season with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Johnstone has recorded 7 league appearances with 14 goals conceded and 0 clean sheets, alongside 2 appearances with 2 goals conceded and 1 clean sheet.

Cumulative league statistics

  • Premier League: 80 appearances, 142 goals conceded, 15 clean sheets.
  • : 211 appearances, 202 goals conceded, 70 clean sheets.
  • League One: 51 appearances, 38 goals conceded, 17 clean sheets.
Additional cup performances include 4 clean sheets in 19 matches across his career, with 20 goals conceded.

International statistics

Johnstone has earned 31 caps across England's youth international teams, accumulating experience from under-16 to under-20 levels.
Youth LevelAppearances
Under-161
Under-1714
Under-1913
Under-203
Total31
At the senior level, Johnstone has made four appearances for , all as a starter, conceding no goals and securing four clean sheets as of October 2023, with no further caps recorded through 2025.
CompetitionAppearancesGoals ConcededClean Sheets
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers202
International Friendlies202
Total404
Johnstone has not featured in any major tournament matches for the senior team.

Honours

Club honours

During his loan spell at Preston North End in the 2014–15 season, Johnstone was part of the team that secured promotion to the by winning the League One play-off final 4–0 against Swindon Town at . With West Bromwich Albion, Johnstone contributed to their automatic promotion to the as runners-up in the season, finishing second behind Leeds United with 83 points from 46 matches. With the Manchester United youth team, Johnstone was part of the squad that won the in 2011. Johnstone's loans at Aston Villa in the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons saw the club achieve a fourth-place finish in the during 2017–18, but no major honours or promotions were attained. He has not won any senior club honours with Manchester United, , or Wanderers as of November 2025.

Individual honours

Johnstone has received several individual accolades during his career, primarily from his time on loan and with Albion. In March 2019, he was awarded the Player of the Month, sponsored by , after keeping two clean sheets and contributing to three victories in four matches for West Brom. During the season, Johnstone earned multiple end-of-season honours at Albion, including the Players' Player of the Year (voted by his teammates), the Supporters' Player of the Year, and the Junior Baggies Player of the Season. These awards recognised his 37 appearances and consistent performances despite the team's relegation. At youth international level, Johnstone was part of the England under-17 squad that won the 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, where he featured in the tournament. As of November 2025, Johnstone has not received major individual honours in the Premier League or at senior international level.

References

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