Former Lincoln City goalkeeper Josh Griffiths could be on the move this summer, with Stoke City understood to be working on a deal for the West Bromwich Albion stopper.
The 24-year-old has been identified by Stoke as cover and competition for Viktor Johansson, with the move also expected to allow England youth international Tommy Simkin to head back out on loan. Griffiths came through the ranks at The Hawthorns and remains under contract at Albion, where he has made first-team appearances since breaking into the senior setup.
Griffiths spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Sincil Bank. He joined the Imps from West Brom in July 2021 and made his debut on the opening day of the League One campaign at Gillingham. He went on to establish himself as Michael Appleton’s first-choice goalkeeper before an ankle injury in March 2022 brought his season to a premature end.
Across the campaign, Griffiths made 35 appearances in all competitions for City, including 33 in League One. He also featured once in the EFL Cup and once in the EFL Trophy. His time at Lincoln came during a season in which the side never fully settled defensively, with changes in front of him a recurring feature of the campaign.
Before his spell with the Imps, Griffiths had already built up senior experience during a successful loan at Cheltenham Town. He made 50 appearances during the 2020/21 season as the Robins won the League Two title, keeping 23 clean sheets and being named the club’s Young Player of the Season.
After leaving Lincoln, he moved on loan to Portsmouth for the first half of the 2022/23 campaign before being recalled by West Brom in January 2023. He made his Albion debut the following month and has since added further senior appearances for his parent club.
Griffiths also spent part of the 2024/25 season on loan at Bristol Rovers, continuing a career pattern that has taken him through several EFL clubs while remaining tied to West Brom. He signed a new three-year contract with Albion in June 2024.
Stoke are expected to have a busy period ahead as Championship clubs return for pre-season. Their goalkeeping situation has been shaped by Johansson’s shoulder injury last season, which led to Simkin being recalled from Leyton Orient and making 17 senior appearances under Mark Robins.
Comments Welcome!