Carl Rushworth’s rise since his time at Lincoln City has taken another significant step, with reports claiming as many as six Premier League sides are tracking the Brighton goalkeeper.
The 24-year-old, currently on loan at Coventry City, has been one of the standout performers in the Championship this season. His form has not gone unnoticed, with top-flight clubs circling ahead of what could be a pivotal summer in his career.
Rushworth has been a revelation for the Sky Blues, recording a league-high 13 clean sheets and playing every minute of their campaign to date. Coventry boss Frank Lampard is believed to be keen on securing him permanently, although competition is expected to be fierce.
Brighton are thought to value the goalkeeper at around £20 million, and with just one year remaining on his current deal, a decision on his future appears to be approaching.
Rushworth’s emergence will come as no surprise to City fans. Signed on loan in July 2022, he quickly established himself as City’s number one, making 46 appearances across all competitions during the 2022-23 campaign. His consistency and reliability made him one of the most dependable performers in that squad, rarely missing a minute and offering a calm presence between the posts.
He arrived with a growing reputation, having come through the youth systems at Huddersfield Town and FC Halifax Town before joining Brighton in 2019. Early senior experience came with Worthing, where he made 30 appearances, before a full season with Walsall in 2021-22 saw him rack up 46 games and establish himself as a Football League goalkeeper.
His trajectory since leaving Sincil Bank has been upward. A move to Swansea City in 2023-24 brought further recognition, with Rushworth collecting both the Supporters’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards after an impressive campaign. Another Championship spell followed at Hull City, before Brighton opted to send him to Coventry for the current season.
It is there that he has truly flourished. Conceding just 40 goals in 38 league appearances, while also registering an assist earlier in the campaign, his all-around game has developed significantly. His performances have even prompted discussion around a potential England call-up, with Lampard publicly backing his credentials for international recognition.
For Lincoln fans, there will be a sense of pride in seeing a former Imps’ keeper, albeit a borrowed one, attracting such attention. During his time at the club, he showed the attributes that suggested he could climb the ladder, commanding his area well and displaying the kind of composure that is now being recognised at a higher level.
If interest from the Premier League materialises into concrete offers this summer, Rushworth could be set for another step up. Whether that comes via Brighton or elsewhere remains to be seen, but his progression from Sincil Bank to one of the most in-demand goalkeepers outside the top flight underlines just how far he has come.
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