Exeter City Football Club is delighted to announce the return of Joe Whitworth on a second season-long loan from Premier League side Crystal Palace.
Joe is currently back with Palace undergoing pre-season testing and will officially link back up with the Grecians on Monday, July 15.
Whitworth, 21, first arrived at St James Park in July 2024 and immediately established himself as a key figure in the Grecians’ squad. Across all competitions, he made an impressive 51 appearances, delivering a string of standout performances that earned him the Fans’ Player of the Year award for the 2024/25 season.
The young keeper’s shot-stopping prowess quickly endeared him to the City faithful at SJP, and he earned plaudits for commanding a defence that kept a club-record breaking five consecutive clean sheets in a row during September and October and saw him nominated for League One Player of the Month.
Speaking in May following the end of season awards, Whitworth spoke with fondness at his connection with the club, saying: “I love the club. Since the day I came in, the manager has been incredible with me, everyone at the club, and the fans, have been amazing since day one.
“Obviously I have tried to repay the faith that they have given me and the manager has given me in every single game I have played and I hope they have seen that.”
- Take a look at Joe's episode of Crystal Palace's Loan Life series where he talks about his time down in Devon
Manager Gary Caldwell said: "We've had some fantastic goalkeepers on loan and Joe was right up there with the best of them last season. He showed some incredible form and racked up a huge number of clean sheets and was one of the best in the league last season.
"He was named the supporters' player of the year too so is well liked at the football club and we are delighted we have managed to get him back and I'm sure this year with the character he is and way he approaches everyday I'm sure he will be even better - he's a huge signing for us."
Welcome back, Joe!
If you would like to sponsor Joe for the 2025/26 season, please get in touch with our commercial team via: commercial@ecfc.co.uk.