After four years away, the prodigal son has returned to Yorkshire with his stock higher than ever and the chance to continue his development as a Premier League goalkeeper.
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Bournemouth signed Aaron Ramsdale for 846 thousand pounds, according to Transfermarkt, and he has been bought back for a large undisclosed fee, wrote the Sheffield Star.
He’s had loan moves to Chesterfield and AFC Wimbledon but his big break came last season as Eddie Howe through experience out the window and opted to place his faith in the youngster after several encouraging preseason performances.
History
37 Premier League games later and he’s secured a move worth almost 20 million pounds, say Transfermarkt.
Ramsdale will replace Sheffield United favourite Dean Henderson, who spent two years at Bramall Lane on loan from Manchester United. He’s gone back to Old Trafford to challenge David de Gea for the gloves, as well as Nick Pope, Jordan Pickford and now surely Ramsdale for the England shirt.
Style
Henderson was excellent across one Championship and one top flight campaign, and the former Bournemouth lad will have big boots to fill. According to FBRef, Ramsdale has a worse expected goals per shot on target ratio than the man he’s replacing - and he’ll have to change his distribution style.
The Blades expected their goalkeeper to make more long passes than anyone else as Henderson topped the league table for average pass length, with 53 meters. By contrast, Ramsdale was instructed to keep things much shorter, as his average pass was just 40 meters.
For passes over 40 meters, Ramsdale had a very slightly more successful time of it but it broadly the same as Henderson - although the Blades loanee would launch (passes over 36 meters, not including goal kicks) the ball 77% of the time. Ramsdale only launched it 53% of the time and will have to get used to that faster style.
It’ll be fascinating to see how the local boy does back at his old club and it’s one of the most romantic stories of the transfer window so far.