Former England and Man Utd star comes out of retirement aged 39 to play for Wrexham in shock transfer
BEN FOSTER has come out of retirement to sign for ambitious Wrexham.
The former England and Manchester United goalkeeper, 39, called time on his career in September.
But Foster will now turn out for Wrexham after the plucky National League side coaxed him back to the beautiful game on a deal until the end of the season.
The Welsh outfit are top of the table and looking to return to League One.
Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have pumped millions into restoring Wrexham’s pride on the pitch.
However, their promotion hopes took a hit this month when No1 Phil Lainton was ruled out for at least six weeks with a knee ligament injury.
But Wrexham are now set for a huge boost with experienced stopper Foster joining the squad.
It comes after the goalie revealed earlier this month he had already turned down an approach from Phil Parkinson.
And it won’t be his first time playing in Wales, with Foster making 21 appearances for Wrexham during a loan from Stoke City in the 2004/05 season.
Foster said: “I’m over the moon. I’ve been at the Club an hour this morning and it seems a really nice place. Everyone is down to earth and the manager’s top class.
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“It’s changed a lot since I was last here, but it’s nice to be back and it’s nice to be back as a player too. It will be interesting to see how my body feels after training today! I’m looking forward to getting started.
“The first time I was here, it was genuinely the springboard to the rest of my career – on the back of the loan move, playing in the LDV Vans Trophy Final at the Millennium Stadium, I got my move to Manchester United at the start of the next season. It was absolutely bonkers!
“If you’d told me 18 years ago that I’d have gone on to have the career that I have had, I probably wouldn’t have believed you to be honest so I do owe a lot to Wrexham.”
New boss Parkinson added: “We’re delighted to welcome Ben to the Club.
“With Rob Lainton getting injured at the weekend, it was important we had all bases covered going into the last part of the season, which this signing ensures.”
Foster’s most recent spell came at Watford, where he spent four years before retiring in September.
The veteran rejected an approach from Newcastle in order to focus on his social media career.
But Wrexham will be hoping he hasn’t lost his appetite for success as they lead Notts County in the race for automatic promotion to League Two.
Foster’s stunning career to date has so far spanned 22 years.
He’s played 535 club games for the likes of West Brom, Watford and Man United.
Foster also won eight caps for England, with his last game coming in 2014.