Nathan Bishop has signed a new contract with Manchester United.
The new deal keeps him at the club until June 2023, with the option of a further year.
Nathan Bishop Signs New Manchester United Contract
Congratulations, Nathan 👏🔴
✍ Our ambitious young goalkeeper has signed a new deal with the Reds and is ready to continue progressing! #MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 11, 2021
Loan Move Imminent
Manchester United sign Nathan Bishop from Southend United in January 2020. The youngster had been exposed to plenty of senior action with Southend in League One, attracting the interest of those at Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old goalkeeper has only appeared once for the development side this campaign – a 6-0 U21 win over Salford City in the EFL Trophy. He has trained in and around the first-team and to offer him a new contract suggests Manchester United retain encouragement for the future. The club have confirmed that the goalkeeper will shortly head out on loan.
A loan move will give Bishop the chance to add to his 31 senior appearances – all of which he made at Southend. It is much needed too, with his lack of involvement in the academy teams and currently being the fourth choice, behind David de Gea, Dean Henderson and Lee Grant at first-team level.
Delighted to Be at Old Trafford
Bishop told the club website: “It’s an amazing club and I’m delighted to be here, and to extend my stay even longer is just incredible.
“The feeling I had the first day I walked through the door hasn’t changed. Driving down the lane at the training ground and coming in the door – it’s the same feeling every day. I’m just delighted to be here. It’s the biggest club in the world and it’s unbelievable to be around the players here. It’s a year since I joined and it literally feels the same.”
Excited to Go Out and Play
“You learn your trade in playing games,” Bishop added. “That’s the most exciting thing, playing games and preparing for them. I’m very excited to step out and hopefully be able to play for a team and put all the year’s work into that.”
Bishop says that he feels more ready to play at professional level again.
He said: “Definitely. When I made my debut I was very excited and I was young and eager to do everything and be really on it. But I think that enthusiasm can sometimes be draining. I only played 45 minutes but I remember those 45 minutes were the quickest and most draining of my life.”
Keen to Lead
Bishop continued: “Now I’m ready to hopefully step into an environment and hopefully play 90 minutes and be able to even lead people and help people, and trust in them knowing they have trust in me; that’s what I’m really excited for.
“I’m loud enough to hopefully be behind players and encourage them. I want to be really positive and go into a team where I can lift individuals and help people and help the team I’m in, and really see what we can push on and achieve.”
Ready for the Next Step in Manchester United Experience
Bishop made 39 appearances during his time at Southend United, conceding 83 goals and keeping 4 clean sheets. The then-League One side were struggling at the bottom for a large part of his time at the club. Following his departure, they were relegated to League Two. Despite all of that, Bishop often showed plenty of potential. His suitor will be getting a goalkeeper that feels ready for the next step and is keen to progress with the motivation of playing for Manchester United in his head should he manage to impress.
Having worked with the goalkeepers at United, including David de Gea and Sergio Romero, Bishop will have learnt a lot in that time.
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