Vito Mannone has joined Minnesota United on a 12-month loan deal.
The 30-year-old shot stopper will spend the upcoming Major League Soccer season with the Loons on loan from Championship side Reading, as confirmed by their official club website.
Mannone was told he could find a new club after falling out-of-favour under Reading boss Jose Gomes. He made just six appearances for the Royals this season.
Arsenal signed him as a youngster from Atalanta in 2005. Mannone went onto play 23 times for the Gunners’ first-team during his time at the Emirates Stadium.
He also gained plenty of experience out on loan with impressive spells at Barnsley and Hull City. Sunderland moved for him in 2013 and he spent four seasons at the Stadium of Light.
Reading came calling for Mannone in July 2017 and signed him for around £2 million. He was their first choice goalkeeper last season but has lost his place in this campaign.
After bringing him to the MLS, Englishman and Minnesota boss Adrian Heath, has said, as per their club website: “The most important thing is we have added another player who has vast experience and has played at a really high level“.
“He’s played in the Premier League, the Championship, some very difficult leagues to play in. He’s been at big clubs and he knows what it feels like to play under tremendous pressure”
He also added: “As a player he’s really competent at all aspects of his game, he’s good playing in traffic, coming out for crosses, he’s good with his feet. He has all the things we’ve been looking for in a goalkeeper”.