Friends reunited as Ruddy joins Murphy at Newcastle United

The pair, who have remained in contact after their stint together at Carrow Road, are colleagues once more after Ruddy moved to the north east to support their goalkeeping department. 

Murphy joined Newcastle from City back in 2017 for a fee of £12m and has made over 170 appearances for the club, even surviving a takeover and a managerial change in the process. He remains a key part of Eddie Howe's first-team squad despite big-money additions. 

Ruddy is full of appreciation for what the 29-year-old has achieved since departing Carrow Road, despite setbacks and being written off throughout his spell at the club. 

"Murph text me yesterday just asking if I needed any convincing but I said that I'd probably be alright on that front," the ex-City keeper told Newcastle's official channels. 

"I know he's obviously done so well from where he came from at Norwich as a young kid. I'm absolutely delighted for him. I think we all saw the images from the Champions League when the anthem started playing. 

"I'm delighted for him on a personal note, and I'm looking forward to working with him again. What he has done in his Newcastle career encapsulates what everybody is trying to build towards in trying to get this club back to the Champions League."

Ruddy secured a surprise move to the Premier League side earlier this week as Newcastle swooped for the veteran goalkeeper to add depth to their squad. 

The ex-City man recently departed relegated Birmingham at the end of his contract and believes the opportunity to move to St James' Park was too good to turn down. 

"This opportunity to come to a club of this magnitude was something that I felt I couldn't turn down," Ruddy said. 

John Ruddy secured a move to Newcastle United earlier this week. (Image: Richard Calver/Focus Images Ltd)

"Newcastle were in the market for an experienced goalkeeper to come and help with what I would call setting standards and cultures everyday, making sure training is a good standard.

"They looked around the market and I fit the bill. I came to the end of my contract at Birmingham and this was something I couldn't turn down. It's a massive club which is only going one way.

"I've been a professional for 20 years, worked my way from the bottom to the top. I think I can lean on those personal experiences to try and help."