Chelsea 'keeper Baxter rejoins Tigers on loan

HAPPY TO BE BACK: Nathan Baxter takes a selfie at the MKM Stadium after rejoining the Tigers on loan from Chelsea. Picture credit: Hull City

By Simon Bristow

Highly-rated goalkeeper Nathan Baxter has rejoined Hull City on a season-long loan from Chelsea, with an option to buy included as part of the deal.

The 23-year-old made 18 appearances for the Tigers in 2021/22, keeping seven clean sheets, as well as helping the team secure eight valuable victories. He now rejoins Shota Arveladze’s squad ahead of the new campaign.  

After making his debut against Wigan Athletic in the Carabao Cup in August 2021, the Westminster-born shot-stopper had to remain patient for his next opportunity to impress at the MKM Stadium.  

Baxter made his first appearance in the Championship at the beginning of November against Barnsley, as he was given his chance to shine in the starting line-up by former head coach Grant McCann.  

He did not let the opportunity pass him by, making a string of big saves in a valuable 2-0 win for the Tigers at Oakwell. Not only that, he was able to retain his place in the starting line-up, and was voted as Player of the Month for November, having kept three clean sheets in his first four starts.  

Baxter remained ever-present in the team until the end of January when he picked up an injury in Arveladze’s first game in charge against Swansea City. He was forced to miss the next few months of the campaign, but returned to the starting line-up on Easter Monday as the Tigers were narrowly beaten by Millwall at The Den.  

He started the next three games to end the campaign against Reading, Bristol City and Nottingham Forest, and will now be looking to push his performances on even further with the Tigers in 2022/23.

The deal provides stability and consistency between the posts for a rapidly developing squad during a summer of change for City under the leadership of ambitious new owner Acun Ilıcalı.

In May, the England Under-20s goalkeeper Harvey Cartwright signed a four-year contract at the MKM Stadium, with experienced shot-stopper Matt Ingram agreeing a three-year deal last month.