Who is Matt Turner and what's his career path?
Turner played baseball and basketball through high school in New Jersey and only started taking soccer seriously as a teenager. He went undrafted out of Fairfield University, signed with the New England Revolution as a free agent, and slowly worked his way up to MLS Goalkeeper of the Year (2021). Arsenal bought him as their backup in 2022, then Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. He's now Palace's #1 and a fan favorite at Selhurst Park.
What is Matt Turner's playing style?
Turner is a shot-stopper first — his reflexes are elite, his command of crosses is improving, and his distribution has gotten much better since joining the Premier League. He's not a sweeper-keeper in the modern Ederson mold; he's an old-school 'make the saves you're supposed to make and keep your team in it' #1.
What is Matt Turner's role at the 2026 World Cup?
Starting goalkeeper. The USMNT keeper depth chart isn't deep, and Turner has been the locked-in #1 since 2022. His World Cup will largely come down to how many big saves he makes in tournament games.
If you love Matt Turner's game, support Crystal Palace FC
Just support Crystal Palace. Turner already does. Palace is a mid-table South London club with a famously passionate ultras section ('Holmesdale Fanatics'), playing attacking soccer under Oliver Glasner. Having an American #1 makes the connection effortless — you'll have a USMNT player to root for every weekend, and Palace's underdog energy is built for new American supporters.
Fun facts about Matt Turner
- +Didn't play organized soccer until age 14 — he was a baseball player first
- +Went undrafted out of Fairfield University in 2016
- +Won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2022 (as a non-playing squad member)
- +Won the CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Glove in 2021
Frequently asked questions
What team does Matt Turner play for?
Crystal Palace in the Premier League. He joined the club to be their starting goalkeeper.
Why did Turner leave Arsenal?
He was Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya's backup at Arsenal. He moved on to get regular Premier League minutes — first at Nottingham Forest, then to Crystal Palace as their starter.