Who is Shrewsbury Town loanee Sam Proctor? Everything you need to know about the Aston Villa keeper

Sam Proctor has arrived at Shrewsbury Town ready to challenge Will Brook for the goalkeeper’s shirt ahead of the new season.

The highly-rated youngster has become Shrewsbury’s eighth signing of the summer - and their second loan arrival after the club was placed under a transfer fee embargo.

Here is everything you need to know about the Aston Villa prospect.

Career beginnings

Proctor was just 13-years-old and an England Under-14 international when he left Peterborough United to join Aston Villa.

Reports at the time suggested Villa paid a fee of £100,000 to bring him to Villa Park in January 2021.

That was the maximum amount allowed for a player of his age, with Posh also receiving a further £50,000 when Proctor signed his first professional contract in 2023.

Born in Boston, Proctor had been part of Peterborough’s academy from the age of eight - although interestingly, he began his career as an outfield player before switching to goalkeeper.

Aston Villa

Proctor has enjoyed a trophy-filled spell at Aston Villa, progressing through the academy ranks and catching the eye with his performances.

He was part of the Under-16 side that lifted the Premier League National Tournament title in 2023.

The 2024/25 season brought even more success, with Proctor helping Villa’s Under-18s complete a remarkable treble.

They won the Under-18 Premier League South title, the FA Youth Cup and the Under-18 Premier League national final - with Proctor keeping a clean sheet in the latter.

The goalkeeper has also featured in the Uefa Youth League, Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy, while he was named on the bench for both legs of Villa’s Uefa Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain.

During his time at Villa, Proctor has also worked alongside World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

New deal

After impressing at academy level, Proctor was rewarded with a new long-term contract at Villa in February last year.

The teenager’s performances during the club’s Uefa Youth League campaign played a key part in earning him the deal.

Villa academy manager Mark Harrison said at the time that the club believed Proctor “has the potential to develop into a goalkeeper who can play at senior level”.

England experience

Proctor arrives at Shrewsbury with an impressive international CV as well as his club pedigree.

The 19-year-old has represented England at every youth level from under-16 to under-20.

Move to Shrewsbury

Proctor has now made his first loan move away from Villa as he looks to gain his first taste of regular Football League action with Shrewsbury.

He has joined on a season-long loan deal, with Salop boss Gavin Cowan confirming he will compete with Brook for the starting role between the posts.

The goalkeeper becomes Town’s eighth recruit of the summer and their second loan signing, following Joe Gbode’s arrival earlier this week.

Shrewsbury are currently operating under a transfer fee embargo, meaning they cannot pay a fee to sign players during the remainder of the summer transfer window.