JR
John Ruddy
Goalkeeper / England / Newcastle United
40 OVR
Profile
Key strength: Shot-stopping
Shot-stopper
At 39 years old, John Ruddy represents something increasingly rare in modern football—a goalkeeper defined not by his starts, but by his presence. Plying his trade as Nick Pope's deputy at Newcastle United, the veteran English shot-stopper has featured just 3 times this season for 270 minutes, yet his value to Eddie Howe's squad extends far beyond the stat sheet. With Newcastle sitting 11th in the Premier League table, navigating the demands of top-flight competition, Ruddy's 553 career appearances and 172 clean sheets provide an invaluable insurance policy. His diminished FIFA pace (25) and physical attributes (45) betray his age, but a 68 passing rating hints at the distribution intelligence that saw him spend over a decade as a Championship stalwart. At €100,000, he's hardly a commercial investment—he's an investment in wisdom. While his teammates Malick Thiaw and Emil Krafth marshal the defense ahead of him, Ruddy serves as the steadying voice in the dressing room, the mentor to younger goalkeepers, and the experienced head who knows exactly what it takes to survive 15 seasons between the sticks.