An in-depth look at our new summer recruit, Carl Rushworth…
Born in Halifax, Carl Rushworth began his career at Huddersfield Town before being released at the age of 16, joining his hometown club Halifax Town in 2017. Conducting his scholarship with the Shaymen, Rushworth signed for Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2019 following a number of impressive displays at Halifax’s academy.
Making his debut for Brighton’s Under-18s in a 4-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in the Under-18 Premier League in January 2019, the shot-stopper made six appearances for the Seagulls in the 2018/19 campaign, four of them coming in wins, keeping two clean sheets against Chelsea and Swansea City.
The following campaign saw Rushworth secure his first career loan spell, heading out to Worthing in August 2019. Making his debut two months later in a 2-1 away win over Cheshunt in the BetVictor Isthmian Premier Division, the 23-year-old played 30 games in all competitions for Worthing, keeping 10 clean sheets.
His performances in the seventh tier earned him a new three-year contract at Brighton upon his return. Becoming the predominant number one for Brighton’s Under-23 side, he made his first appearance in the EFL Trophy group stages, facing Leyton Orient in September 2020 in a 3-2 defeat. Four days later, he made his Premier League 2 debut in a 1-1 away draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
Featuring 21 times for Brighton’s Under-23s, including three appearances in the EFL Trophy, Rushworth joined Walsall on a season-long loan deal for the 2021/22 campaign. Making his EFL league debut against Tranmere Rovers in August 2021, he was key in Walsall’s campaign when keeping 13 clean sheets in 46 outings in all competitions. During his loan spell with the Saddlers, Rushworth signed an improved contract with his parent club Brighton in January 2022, committing to 2025.
Rushworth headed out on loan for a second consecutive season, going up a division when joining League One outfit Lincoln City in July 2022. Handed his third-tier debut on opening day against Exeter City, the shot-stopper racked up an impressive 20 clean sheets in 46 outings, with 19 of them coming in the league. During the campaign, Rushworth featured in the quarter-finals of the EFL Trophy, losing on penalties against Accrington Stanley, and featuring in the first, third and fourth rounds of the EFL Cup, succumbing to Southampton.
Last season saw the Halifax-born goalkeeper sign on loan for Championship outfit Swansea City. At the Swans, he played every league minute of the 2023/24 campaign, keeping nine clean sheets in 46 appearances. He also featured in both EFL Cup games, keeping a shut-out in the first round against Northampton Town.
Internationally, Rushworth has been capped at Under-21 level for England. His first international call-up came in November 2019 for England Under-19s for their UEFA Championship qualifiers against Luxembourg, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but he did not play.
Included in England Under-20 squads in October and November 2020, Rushworth was an unused substitute for a friendly victory over Wales. Receiving his first call-up for the Under-21s in November 2021, the goalkeeper was an unused substitute in four Euro Under-21 qualifying group matches against Andorra, Albania, Kosovo and Slovenia.
After a further two call-ups that yielded no caps, Rushworth earned his one and only cap when playing in an international friendly against Japan Under-22s in October 2023, keeping a clean sheet in the first half as he was withdrawn at half-time in a 2-0 defeat at St George’s Park, behind-closed-doors. However, he was called up to be part of the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, a tournament the Young Lions went on to win.
This season, Rushworth has been an unused substitute for two Premier League games for Brighton in victories over Everton and Manchester United.
Brighton Photo Credit: BHAFC/Paul Hazlewood