In a recent development, Tottenham Hotspur has announced that their young goalkeeper, Josh Keeley, has signed a new contract with the club that will keep him until 2027. Following the contract extension, Keeley has been sent on a season-long loan to League One club, Leyton Orient, for the 2024/25 season. This move sees Keeley joining his Tottenham teammate, Jamie Donley, at Leyton Orient, a club that has experienced a challenging start to the current season.
Leyton Orient has struggled in their early League One fixtures, failing to secure any points from their first four matches. Despite this, they managed to pull off a notable victory against Millwall in the second round of the Carabao Cup, maintaining a perfect record in cup competitions so far this season. One of the key issues contributing to Orient’s poor league form has been the inconsistent performances of their goalkeeper, Zac Hemming.
Hemming has been responsible for errors that directly led to goals in two of their recent defeats, specifically against Bolton Wanderers and Birmingham City. These mistakes have been costly, as both matches ended in narrow one-goal losses for Orient. The club’s manager, Richie Wellens, publicly criticized Hemming for these errors, highlighting the need for improvement in the goalkeeping department.
The arrival of Josh Keeley on loan is seen as a potential solution to Orient’s goalkeeping woes. It is hoped that Keeley’s presence will bring stability to the team’s defense and help them climb up the League One table. Both Keeley and his fellow Spurs loanee, Jamie Donley, are expected to play significant roles in Orient’s bid to turn their season around.
Josh Keeley comes to Leyton Orient with a solid reputation. Last season, he spent the latter half of the campaign on loan at Barnet, another North London club. During his time at Barnet, Keeley replaced Laurie Walker, the club’s reigning Player of the Year, as the starting goalkeeper. Under Keeley’s watch, Barnet finished second in the National League, though they were ultimately eliminated in the play-off semi-finals. Despite the team’s disappointment, Keeley’s individual performances were strong enough to earn him a step up to a League One side.
At 21 years old, Keeley is a goalkeeper with considerable potential. His talent has been recognized at the international level, as he represented the Republic of Ireland U21 team in a match against Croatia during the summer. Keeley has also been selected for the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for their upcoming international fixtures against Turkey and Latvia.
Although Keeley did not feature in Leyton Orient’s recent defeat to Shrewsbury Town, there is a possibility that he could make his debut for the club in their upcoming match against Arsenal U21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. Leyton Orient fans and Tottenham supporters alike will be keen to see how Keeley performs during his loan spell, as his development could be crucial for both clubs’ future plans.
