Angus Gunn
Angus Gunn (born 22 January 1996) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Nottingham Forest and the Scotland national team.[1][2][3] Born in Norwich, England, Gunn began his youth career at hometown club Norwich City in 2004 before transferring to Manchester City's academy in 2011 at the age of 15.[1][4] He signed his first professional contract with Manchester City in June 2013 at age 17.[5][4] Standing at 1.96 metres (6 ft 5 in) tall, Gunn progressed through the club's youth system and was part of the England under-21 squad during this period.[1][6] Gunn's senior career began with loan spells from Manchester City to lower-league clubs, including a notable season-long loan to his boyhood club Norwich City in the Championship during the 2017–18 season, where he made 47 appearances.[7][8] In July 2018, he joined Southampton on a permanent five-year deal for a fee that could rise to £13.5 million, becoming one of the club's most expensive signings at the time.[9] However, he struggled for regular playing time at Southampton and was loaned to Preston North End and Stoke City before returning to Norwich City on a permanent £5 million transfer in June 2021.[10] At Norwich, Gunn established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper, accumulating over 170 appearances across two spells with the club.[11] In August 2025, he signed with Nottingham Forest on a one-year contract.[5][10][12] Internationally, Gunn was eligible to represent both England (through birth) and Scotland (through his father, Bryan Gunn, a former Scotland international and Norwich City goalkeeper).[4] He earned caps for England at youth levels up to under-21 but declared his intention to play for Scotland in March 2023.[3] Gunn made his senior debut for Scotland the same month and has since become the national team's primary goalkeeper, featuring in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers and the tournament itself.[3] As of November 2025, he has earned several caps but is sidelined due to a knee ligament injury sustained in October 2025.[13][14]Personal background
Early life
Angus Gunn was born on 22 January 1996 in Norwich, England, to Bryan Gunn, a former professional footballer who had a distinguished career as a goalkeeper, primarily with Norwich City where he made nearly 500 appearances, and earlier with Aberdeen.[15][16][17] Growing up in Norwich, Gunn developed an early passion for football, influenced by his father's legacy at the local club and the sport's prominence in Norfolk, a region known as a one-club county centered around Norwich City. From the age of three, he participated in training camps through community football programs, fostering his initial skills and enthusiasm for the game.[18][17] In 2011, at age 15, Gunn's family relocated from Norwich to Cheshire near Manchester after his father secured a position with a sports agency, facilitating Angus's entry into Manchester City's youth setup. Through his father's Scottish birth in Thurso, Gunn holds eligibility to represent Scotland at the international level.[19][20][17]Family and heritage
Angus Gunn's paternal lineage is deeply embedded in professional football, with his father, Bryan Gunn, serving as a prominent goalkeeper in Scottish and English leagues. Born on 22 December 1963 in Thurso, Scotland, Bryan began his career at Aberdeen in 1980, making his debut in 1982 under manager Alex Ferguson before transferring to Norwich City in 1986 for £100,000, where he became a club legend with over 450 appearances.[21][16] He concluded his playing days at Hibernian from 1998 to 1999, amassing 511 senior appearances across his career.[21] Bryan's Scottish origins provided Angus, born in England, with eligibility to represent either nation internationally, alongside his own six caps for Scotland in the early 1990s.[22] This heritage offered Angus early immersion in a professional football environment, as the family relocated during Bryan's career, fostering his development amid the sport's demands.[23] The Gunn family has remained a pillar of support for Angus's journey. His mother is Susan Gunn, a painter and artist who has exhibited internationally. He has two sisters, Melissa, a model, and Francesca.[15][24]Club career
Manchester City
Angus Gunn joined Manchester City's academy in 2011 at the age of 15, transferring from his hometown club Norwich City for a fee of £250,000. Influenced by his father, former Norwich goalkeeper Bryan Gunn, he quickly integrated into the youth setup and progressed steadily through the age groups, featuring regularly for the under-18 and Elite Development Squad (EDS) teams.[25][1] In June 2013, Gunn signed his first professional contract with Manchester City, a three-year deal that marked his commitment to the club as he continued to develop. His performances in youth competitions, including appearances in the UEFA Youth League and Premier League 2, earned him recognition within the academy system, where he honed his skills as a commanding and shot-stopping goalkeeper. By 2015, impressed with his potential, the club extended his contract for another four years.[5][26][27] Gunn's proximity to the first team grew during the 2016–17 season under manager Pep Guardiola, when he was named as an unused substitute on 10 occasions across all competitions, primarily in cup matches. However, he did not make a competitive senior debut for the club, limited by strong competition from established goalkeepers including Willy Caballero, Claudio Bravo, and the newly signed Ederson in the summer of 2017. To gain regular first-team experience, Gunn's senior career began with loan spells from Manchester City to lower-league clubs, including loans to Barnsley in 2014, Cambridge United in 2015, and Wycombe Wanderers in 2016, before a notable season-long loan to his boyhood club Norwich City for the 2017–18 season.[28][7] In July 2018, after seven years at Manchester City, Gunn left the club permanently to join Southampton on a five-year contract for an initial fee of £10 million, potentially rising to £13.5 million based on performance add-ons. This move allowed him to pursue greater opportunities for senior football, having made no first-team appearances during his time with the Citizens.[9]Southampton
Angus Gunn transferred to Southampton from Manchester City on 10 July 2018 for an initial fee of £10 million, potentially rising to £13.5 million, signing a five-year contract as a long-term successor to first-choice goalkeeper Fraser Forster.[29][9] The move came after Gunn sought greater first-team opportunities following limited senior exposure at Manchester City.[29] At Southampton, Gunn primarily served as a backup goalkeeper, making sporadic appearances in the Premier League and domestic cups between 2018 and 2021, totaling 30 outings across all competitions, including 22 in the top flight.[30] He featured in 12 league matches during the 2018–19 season, helping the team secure a 16th-place finish and Premier League survival, and added 10 more in 2019–20 as Southampton ended 12th.[31] In the early part of the 2020–21 campaign, Gunn earned brief starts, including a full 90 minutes in a 3–3 draw against Chelsea on 17 October 2020, amid the club's eventual fight to avoid relegation, which they achieved by finishing 16th.[32] His reliable backup role contributed to the defensive stability during these survival efforts, with eight clean sheets recorded in his Southampton appearances.[30] In October 2020, Gunn joined Championship side Stoke City on a season-long loan to gain regular playing time as a replacement for Jack Butland. His stint was hampered by injuries, including an ankle ligament issue in November 2020 that sidelined him for six weeks and a persistent foot problem in April 2021 that ended his campaign early; he managed 15 appearances, keeping six clean sheets.[33][34][35] Gunn returned to Southampton at the loan's conclusion in June 2021 but did not feature further before departing the club permanently.[33]Norwich City
Gunn joined Norwich City on a permanent transfer from Southampton on 23 June 2021 for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around £5 million, signing a four-year contract as the club's first-choice goalkeeper and returning to his boyhood club.[36][27] In the 2021–22 Premier League season, Gunn made 11 appearances, primarily stepping in for the injured Tim Krul, as Norwich City were relegated to the Championship after finishing bottom of the table.[27] Following relegation, he solidified his role as the primary goalkeeper starting in the 2022–23 Championship campaign, where he featured in 32 league matches during a season that ended in 13th place. Gunn continued his strong form in 2023–24, appearing in 43 total matches—including the playoffs—as Norwich secured sixth position and advanced to the playoff semi-finals before elimination by Leeds United. In the 2024–25 Championship season, he played 35 league games, contributing to defensive efforts amid another promotion push.[27][37] Gunn quickly became a fan favorite at Carrow Road, praised for his commanding presence and reliability, with supporters appreciating his roots as the son of former Norwich legend Bryan Gunn. Over his four seasons, he amassed 172 appearances for the club, recording 47 clean sheets and demonstrating key shot-stopping prowess, such as 84 saves in the 2024–25 season alone. His prior loan spell at Norwich in 2017–18 had provided valuable experience in backup and rotational roles, aiding his seamless transition to first-team prominence.[38][39][40] Despite discussions around a contract extension, Norwich City announced on 28 April 2025 that Gunn would depart upon the expiry of his deal at the end of the 2024–25 season. Throughout his tenure, Gunn's consistency provided essential defensive stability, underpinning the club's repeated efforts to return to the Premier League, though promotion eluded them.[41]Nottingham Forest
In the summer of 2025, Angus Gunn joined Nottingham Forest on a free transfer after his contract with Norwich City expired, signing a one-year deal until June 2026.[42][12] The move came as Forest sought to bolster their goalkeeping options following the departure of Matt Turner on loan to Lyon and Wayne Hennessey's exit.[43] Gunn arrived as a backup and competitor within Forest's goalkeeping unit, behind first-choice Matz Sels and fellow deputy Carlos Miguel, positioning him as the third-choice option early in the 2025–26 Premier League season.[44] Despite being part of the squad, he had yet to make any competitive appearances for the club prior to sustaining an injury, with no recorded contributions to the team's defensive efforts at that stage.[5] On 30 October 2025, Gunn suffered a knee ligament injury during training, described by manager Sean Dyche as having "opened up his knee ligaments," which sidelined him immediately.[13][45] No surgery was reported, and while the exact diagnosis and recovery timeline remained unclear at the time, the injury raised doubts about his availability for Scotland's World Cup qualifiers in November 2025.[13] As of early November 2025, Gunn remained out of action and had not featured in Forest's last seven matchday squads, with the club providing support for his rehabilitation amid a broader injury crisis.[46][47]International career
England youth teams
Gunn began his international youth career with England at the under-16 level in 2011, earning four caps during that year. His debut came on 15 February 2011 in a 0-0 friendly draw against Slovenia, where he kept a clean sheet before being substituted at half-time.[48][4] These early appearances showcased his potential as a reliable goalkeeper, contributing to England's defensive solidity in youth fixtures.[27] Progressing to the under-17 team between 2011 and 2013, Gunn secured six caps, including involvement in the qualification campaign for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, though he remained an unused substitute in the final tournament held in the United Arab Emirates.[1][4] He continued his development with the under-19 side from 2014 to 2015, accumulating four caps primarily in European Championship qualifiers, where he provided backup support amid competitive depth in the goalkeeping position.[1][4] In 2016, Gunn also featured twice for the under-20 team in friendly matches.[4] Gunn's most extensive youth involvement came at under-21 level, where he earned 12 caps between 2015 and 2019, making his debut as a substitute in a 1-0 win over the United States under-23s on 3 September 2015.[1][27] Despite limited starts in major tournaments due to competition from established goalkeepers like Jordan Pickford, he delivered standout performances in qualifiers, including a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory against Ukraine on 10 November 2017.[27] Gunn was part of the England U21 squad for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship but saw minimal playing time.[49] In 2019, following the tournament, Gunn chose to step away from the England youth pathway to focus on pursuing senior international opportunities elsewhere.[50]Scotland national team
Gunn became eligible to represent Scotland through his father, Bryan Gunn, who earned six caps for the national team in the 1990s.[17] In March 2023, he switched his international allegiance from England, where he had represented the under-21 side, and was promptly called up to the senior squad by head coach Steve Clarke for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying fixtures against Cyprus and Spain.[51] This marked a significant addition to Scotland's goalkeeping depth amid injuries to established options like Craig Gordon.[17] Gunn made his senior debut on 25 March 2023 at Hampden Park against Cyprus, starting and playing the full 90 minutes while keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 victory that boosted Scotland's qualification hopes.[52] He went on to feature in six matches during the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, including starts against Spain and Norway, where he recorded four clean sheets and contributed to Scotland securing a play-off spot before advancing via penalties against Ukraine. Named in the final squad for UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany, Gunn established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper, starting the tournament opener against hosts Germany on 14 June 2024, though Scotland suffered a 5–1 defeat; he did not feature in the subsequent group stage losses to Switzerland and Hungary, as the team exited in the group phase.[53] Following Euro 2024, Gunn continued to earn selections in the UEFA Nations League during 2024, making four appearances.[54] In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying cycle, he started key early matches, including a 2–1 home win over Belarus on 12 October 2025 and a 0–0 away draw against Denmark on 5 September 2025, where his saves were pivotal in securing a point.[55] However, a knee ligament injury sustained on 30 October 2025 while playing for Nottingham Forest caused him to miss the November 2025 qualifiers against Greece and Denmark—a notable setback for Scotland's goalkeeping stability given his emergence as the primary number one.[13] As of November 2025, Gunn has accumulated 20 senior caps for Scotland, all without scoring, underscoring his growing importance to the team's defensive setup.[3]Career statistics
Club
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals Conceded | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Manchester City | PL2 | 5 | Not available | 2 |
| 2017–18 | Norwich City (loan) | Championship | 46 | 60 | 15 |
| 2018–19 | Southampton | Premier League | 12 | 18 | 3 |
| 2019–20 | Preston North End (loan) | Championship | 9 | 15 | 2 |
| 2020–21 | Stoke City (loan) | Championship | 15 | 21 | 6 |
| 2021–22 | Norwich City | Premier League | 9 | 22 | 1 |
| 2022–23 | Norwich City | Championship | 30 | 36 | 7 |
| 2023–24 | Norwich City | Championship | 40 | 48 | 11 |
| 2024–25 | Norwich City | Championship | 35 | 42 | 7 |
| 2025–26 | Nottingham Forest | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 201 | 262 | 54 |
International
Gunn represented England at youth international levels from 2011 to 2019 before switching his allegiance to Scotland in March 2023.[62] His international statistics, focusing on appearances and key performance metrics, are summarized below as of November 8, 2025. Gunn has been absent from recent Scotland squads due to a knee ligament injury that is expected to cause him to miss upcoming matches.[14][3]Youth International Statistics (England)
| Team | Caps | Minutes Played | Clean Sheets | Tournament-Specific Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U16 | 4 | 360 | Not available | Friendly and qualification matches, 2011–2012.[62] |
| U17 | 5 | 450 | Not available | Included friendlies and qualifiers; squad member for 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup (0 appearances in tournament).[62] |
| U19 | 2 | 180 | Not available | European Championship qualifiers, 2014–2015.[62] |
| U21 | 7 | 630 | Not available | European Championship qualifiers and friendlies, 2015–2019.[62] |
| U23 | 2 | 180 | Not available | Olympic qualifiers, 2016.[62] |
| Total | 20 | 1,800 | Not available | Across all youth levels.[62] |
Senior International Statistics (Scotland)
| Competition | Caps (Starts) | Minutes Played | Goals Conceded | Clean Sheets | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying | 6 (6) | 540 | 2 | 4 | Key role in qualification campaign; included clean sheets against Cyprus (twice) and Georgia.[63][17] |
| International Friendlies | 5 (5) | 450 | 5 | 1 | Debut clean sheet vs. Cyprus (March 2023); appearances through 2024.[3][17] |
| UEFA Nations League | 4 (4) | 360 | 6 | 0 | Matches in 2023–2024; no appearances in 2025 due to injury.[64] |
| FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying | 4 (4) | 360 | 4 | 1 | Early qualifiers in 2025 (pre-injury); clean sheet vs. Belarus (September 2025).[62] |
| Total | 19 (19) | 1,710 | 17 | 6 | All starts as first-choice goalkeeper post-debut; no appearances at UEFA Euro 2024 (squad member only).[3] |
Honours
Club
Gunn began his professional career at Manchester City, where he was part of the under-18 squad that reached the final of the 2015–16 FA Youth Cup, ultimately finishing as runners-up after a 4–2 aggregate defeat to Chelsea.[56][57] During his time at Southampton from 2018 to 2021, Gunn did not win any major senior team honours, though the club avoided relegation by finishing 16th in the Premier League in the 2018–19 season. At Norwich City, where he spent time on loan in 2017–18 and then permanently from 2021 to 2025, Gunn earned several individual accolades, including the club's Player of the Month award for October 2022, February 2022, and March 2023.[58][59][60] He also finished third in the 2017–18 Barry Butler Memorial Trophy voting for Norwich City Player of the Season.[61] The team reached the EFL Championship play-off semi-finals in 2023–24 but did not secure promotion.[4] Since joining Nottingham Forest on a one-year deal in August 2025, Gunn has not won any honours, having been sidelined by a knee ligament injury sustained in late October 2025 that has kept him out of action.[13][5]International
Gunn represented England at youth international levels from 2011 to 2019 before switching his allegiance to Scotland in March 2023.[62] His international statistics, focusing on appearances and key performance metrics, are summarized below as of November 8, 2025. Gunn has been absent from recent Scotland squads due to a cruciate ligament injury expected to sideline him for the season.[14][3]Youth International Statistics (England)
| Team | Caps | Minutes Played | Clean Sheets | Tournament-Specific Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U16 | 4 | 360 | Not available | Friendly and qualification matches, 2011–2012.[62] |
| U17 | 5 | 450 | Not available | Included friendlies and qualifiers; squad member for 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup (0 appearances in tournament).[62] |
| U19 | 2 | 180 | Not available | European Championship qualifiers, 2014–2015.[62] |
| U21 | 7 | 630 | Not available | European Championship qualifiers and friendlies, 2015–2019.[62] |
| U23 | 2 | 180 | Not available | Olympic qualifiers, 2016.[62] |
| Total | 20 | 1,800 | Not available | Across all youth levels.[62] |
Senior International Statistics (Scotland)
| Competition | Caps (Starts) | Minutes Played | Goals Conceded | Clean Sheets | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying | 6 (6) | 540 | 2 | 4 | Key role in qualification campaign; included clean sheets against Cyprus (twice) and Georgia.[63][17] |
| International Friendlies | 5 (5) | 450 | 5 | 1 | Debut clean sheet vs. Cyprus (March 2023); appearances through 2024.[3][17] |
| UEFA Nations League | 4 (4) | 360 | 6 | 0 | Matches in 2023–2024; no appearances in 2025 due to injury.[64] |
| FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying | 3 (3) | 270 | 3 | 1 | Early qualifiers in 2025 (pre-injury); clean sheet vs. Belarus (September 2025).[62] |
| Total | 18 (18) | 1,620 | 16 | 6 | All starts as first-choice goalkeeper post-debut; no appearances at UEFA Euro 2024 (squad member only).[3] |