Who is Sam Tickle? Get to know the highly-rated goalkeeper who Arsenal are interested in ahead of transfer deadline day

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Arsenal are still on the hunt for a goalkeeper or even two ahead of transfer deadline day and Sam Tickle is the latest possible target to emerge.

It’s been a strong summer for Arsenal, who have added quality and depth to the squad as they look to finally overtake Manchester City and claim the Premier League title for the first time in 20 years.

Mikel Merino became the latest signing on Tuesday to add more options to Mikel Arteta’s midfield and he follows Riccardo Calafiori, Lucas Nygaard and David Raya to the club.

Raya signed permanently from Brentford after a successful loan spell last season and is the undisputed No.1 over Aaron Ramsdale.

The English goalkeeper may still depart the Emirates this summer but Arsenal want a replacement before he goes. Espanyol’s Joan Garcia is the top target.

However, Garcia isn’t the only goalkeeper the Gunners are after and now Sam Tickle has tickled their fancy.

But who is he? Well here’s all you need to know.

Who does Sam Tickle play for?

Sam Tickle is a goalkeeper who plays for Wigan Athletic in League One.

He first joined Wigan when he was just 10 years old and spent six years in their youth ranks before being released in the summer of 2018.

However, after impressing in the Cheshire Football League as he helped his side Pilkington finish top of the division, Wigan swooped back in to sign the prospect as a scholar.

Tickle made his first team debut in an EFL Trophy defeat to Crewe Alexandra in 202. However, still just a teenager, he had to wait for his big break in the first team, spending 2022 out on loan at non-league sides Nantwich Town and Warrington Rylands.

After returning and signing a new deal in 2023, Tickle made his league debut on the final day of the Championship season, keeping a clean sheet for his already-relegated side in a goalless draw against Rotherham.

Tickle was then handed the No.1 shirt ahead of the 2023/24 campaign as manager Shaun Maloney made him his first choice.

Tickle would go on to have a fine season, keeping 18 clean sheets as Wigan finished 12th despite an eight-point deduction, and became the first goalkeeper in thirteen years to win the Lactcis’ Player of the Season award.

He signed a new four-year contract in April amid rumours of interest from Championship clubs and now Arsenal appear to be circling.

Tickle has also played one game for England at Under-21 level, becoming the first Wigan player to earn a call-up to the squad since Leighton Baines in 2006.

How old is Sam Tickle

Samuel Lloyd Tickle was born on March 31, 2002, in Warrington, England. As of August 2024, he is 22 years old.

Sam Tickle height

Tickle stands at a tall 6″2′ (188cm), helping him be dominant in the air as balls are delivered into his box and to have a good reach when diving to save shots.

Instagram and X/Twitter accounts

Sam Tickle has an official Instagram account with just 7,555 followers at the moment but that’s sure to increase if he signs for Arsenal. You can find him @samtickle_.

He often shares interesting photos of him in action for his club and country.

He does not appear to have an official X, formerly Twitter, account.

Sam Tickle to Arsenal transfer rumours

The Athletic are reporting that Arsenal are ‘exploring a deal’ to sign Tickle from Wigan this summer.

It’s reported how, as well as a replacement for Ramsdale, the Gunners are also keen to add a goalkeeper with homegrown status to the first-team squad with Tickle, alongside Wolves’ Dan Bentley, on their shortlist.

However, it’s not yet clear if Tickle wants to give up guaranteed first-team football by making the jump to Arsenal and becoming third choice.

Sam Tickle stats

Praise for Sam Tickle

Tickle is beloved by Wigan fans, who would be heartbroken to see him depart, as would manager Maloney, who showered him with praise last season.

Speaking in January, Maloney said, via Wigan Today: “He’s just a brilliant shot-stopper, it’s incredible to think where he’s come from in the last eight or nine months or so.

“At the end of last season, he was playing in the reserves final in May.

“This is only my opinion, but I don’t think there’s a better goalkeeper in our league…I’m not sure there’s a better goalkeeper in the league above…he’s that good.

“He’s saved us a lot this season, but I still think there’s so much more to come from him.

“He can get even better with his feet, but shot-stopping…I haven’t seen too many as good as that, when he just produces outstanding moments like he does that win games.”

“He’s exactly the same Sam from six months ago. He’s got a really nice family behind him, he works extremely hard, and he does so much work on his strength programme…you can see he’s incredibly springy.

“He’s just a good lad who, if anything, has become even more hungry having had a taste of it this season, and with the England Under-21s.

“He certainly wants to play at a certain level, and I have absolutely no doubt that he will do that.”