Tom Heaton

uPh5...cSoq

1 Apr 2024

Tom Heaton

Thomas Heaton engaged in discussions with Watford regarding a potential transfer; however, the club's new owners opted to withdraw from the negotiations. Following this setback, Heaton went on trial with Bristol City during their pre-season training camp in Spain. Subsequently, contract talks commenced, and on 27 July, Heaton signed a one-year deal with the club, with the option for an additional 12 months. He made his debut for Bristol City on 18 August 2012, in a 1–0 defeat away to Nottingham Forest.
Unfortunately, it was a challenging season for Bristol City, as they ended up with the worst defensive record in the league, conceding 84 goals, and were subsequently relegated at the conclusion of the campaign. Despite the team's struggles, Heaton was a regular starter, featuring in 43 of Bristol City's 46 matches in the Championship that season. He was recognized as one of the club's standout performers during the campaign.

Thomas Heaton opted to depart Bristol City after declining a further one-year deal, instead choosing to join Burnley. The club offered him a two-year contract, tying him to the team until June 2015, with the possibility of extending for a third year. Heaton, a target for manager Sean Dyche during his time at Watford, was praised as a "good technician" with an impressive pedigree.
Upon his arrival at Burnley, Heaton quickly asserted himself as the first-choice goalkeeper, filling the void left by Lee Grant and Brian Jensen. He made his debut for Burnley against Bolton Wanderers on 3 August 2013. However, in a match against Brighton on 24 August, Heaton received a rare technical caution for handling the ball after releasing it, leading to a 2–0 defeat.

During his tenure at Burnley, Heaton was part of a solid defensive unit that conceded only 37 goals, the fewest in the league, as Burnley secured promotion to the Premier League. He also amassed 19 clean sheets, the highest in the regular season.
In the Premier League, Heaton made his debut against Chelsea on 18 August, playing every minute of Burnley's campaign. Despite his commendable efforts, Burnley suffered relegation at the end of the season. Nevertheless, Heaton's performances earned him the Players' Player of the Year award.
Heaton extended his stay at Burnley by signing a new three-year deal in June 2015. In the 2015–16 season, he was appointed as captain, leading the team back to the Premier League as champions. Heaton's stellar displays earned him a place in the Championship PFA Team of the Year.

Further demonstrating his commitment to Burnley, Heaton signed another contract extension in July 2016, this time for four years. He continued to showcase his abilities, producing notable saves against former club Manchester United and reaching his 150th league appearance for Burnley. Despite his efforts, Burnley fell to Arsenal in a 2–1 defeat.
After signing for Aston Villa on 1 August 2019, Thomas Heaton's time with the newly promoted Premier League club was marked by both highs and lows. Just a few months into his Villa career, Heaton suffered a season-ending knee injury on 1 January 2020 during a match against his former team, Burnley. This injury, sustained in a 2–1 victory, sidelined him for an extended period, along with his teammate Wesley, who also suffered a serious knee injury in the same game.

As Heaton continued to recover from his injury, Villa secured the services of Emiliano Martínez from Arsenal, who became the new first-choice goalkeeper. It wasn't until 10 November 2020, after over ten months on the sidelines, that Heaton made his return to football, featuring for Aston Villa U23s in a Premier League 2 match against Burnley U23s, which ended in a 2–2 draw.
Gradually working his way back to full fitness, Heaton rejoined the first-team squad and was named as an unused substitute in a 3–0 home win over Crystal Palace on 26 December 2020. However, despite his return to contention, it was announced on 28 May 2021 that Heaton would leave Aston Villa at the end of his contract.

Thomas Heaton's return to Manchester United in July 2021 marked a significant moment in his career, reuniting with the club where he began his football journey over a decade prior. Signing a two-year contract with the option of an additional year, Heaton embarked on his second stint with United.
After patiently waiting for his opportunity, Heaton finally made his first-team debut on 8 December 2021, stepping in for Dean Henderson during a UEFA Champions League match against Young Boys. This moment represented a milestone for Heaton, signaling his return to competitive action with the club.

Heaton's involvement continued into the domestic competitions, notably starting in the EFL Cup game against Charlton Athletic on 10 January 2023. In this match, Heaton's performance was stellar as he kept a clean sheet in a convincing 3–0 victory, contributing to United's qualification for the semi-finals of the tournament.
Maintaining his form, Heaton started in the second leg of the semi-final against Nottingham Forest on 1 February 2023. Once again, Heaton showcased his goalkeeping prowess by keeping a clean sheet as United secured a 2–0 victory on the night, advancing to the final with an aggregate score of 5–0. These performances highlighted Heaton's enduring skill and value to the team as he continued to make his mark at Manchester United.