Joe Whitworth - Player Profile

Whitworth is regarded as one of the most promising young shot-stoppers to emerge from Crystal Palace's academy system.

Born on 29th February 2004 in Sutton, Whitworth developed through the youth ranks at AFC Wimbledon before joining Crystal Palace in 2016.

Whitworth first gained national attention in March 2023 when he made his Premier League debut for Crystal Palace against Brighton & Hove Albion. At just 19 years and 15 days old, he became the club's youngest goalkeeper to appear in the Premier League.

A modern goalkeeper, Whitworth is known for his strong shot-stopping ability, confidence in possession, and distribution from the back. These qualities made him highly rated within Palace's academy and earned him recognition at England youth international level, representing his country from Under-15 through to Under-18 age groups.

To gain senior experience, Whitworth joined Exeter City on loan for the 2024/25 season. He enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, making 51 appearances, keeping 16 clean sheets, and winning the club's Player of the Season award. His performances were so impressive that Exeter brought him back for a second loan spell in 2025/26.

After two successful seasons at Exeter, where he made over 90 appearances and established himself as one of League One's standout goalkeepers, Whitworth completed a permanent move to Wigan Athletic on 1st September 2026, reuniting with manager Gary Caldwell.