For Matt Turner, a return to the New England Revolution isn’t just a matter of re-establishing himself as the U.S. men’s national team starting goalkeeper ahead of next summer’s FIFA World Cup. It’s a homecoming.
And so the Revolution welcomed back Turner, the club he first joined undrafted in 2016 and represented until 2022, at his introductory press conference inside Gillette Stadium on Monday morning.
Over the past three years, he’s moved across the English Premier League — from Arsenal to Nottingham Forest and on loan with Crystal Palace — and he and his wife, Ashley, have welcomed both a son and a daughter.
“As you can see, I have a beautiful family now — a bigger support group than I ever could’ve imagined when I first joined the Revs back in 2016,” Turner said Monday, with his family in attendance. “Ten years later, life looks really different.”
That’s not all that’s changed. When he left New England for Arsenal on a $6 million transfer, his star was ascending: He was enroute to starting all four of the U.S.’s games at the 2022 FIFA World Cup; had just helped the Revolution win the 2021 Supporters’ Shield; and was the reigning MLS All-Star Game MVP and MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.
Today, Turner, 31, remains on the U.S. national team, but lost his starting spot earlier this summer at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where the Americans finished second to rivals Mexico with New York City FC’s Matt Freese in net. More uncertainty followed Turner into July, as France’s Olympique Lyonnais tried to abandon signing him from Nottingham Forest amid the club’s financial turmoil and managerial changes.
Turner’s time in Europe — which saw promising starts turn into limited minutes — didn’t unfold as expected. But the experience gave him perspective. His conversations with U.S. national team coach Mauricio Pochettino provided him with needed encouragement.
“My European adventure didn’t go perfectly to plan, but I learned a lot along the way,” Turner said. “I had some misfortunes, and there were opportunities I didn’t make the most of. Still, I started my family while I was over there, and I have zero regrets.
“Sometimes you’re stuck in a cycle, and you need someone to help you snap out of it. That’s what [Pochettino] did for me — he helped me step back and see things from a new perspective.”
The Revolution stepped into the void and arranged a rendezvous with Turner, signing him last Friday on loan through 2025, with an option to buy him permanently in 2026. He is on loan from OL, which was forced to complete his $8 million purchase from Nottingham Forest last week.
“Credit to the staff here — [Sporting Director Curt Onalfo], [Assistant Sporting Director] Chris Tierney, [Technical Director] Remi Roy — they were monitoring my situation and stayed in touch with my agent over the years,” Turner said. “For me, it was always New England. It always felt like home. When the opportunity came up, it was the right time for us.”
Much has changed for the Revolution, too. New England (6-11-7, 25 points) has seen its playoff hopes drop and both its supporters groups have called for the firings of Onalfo and head coach Caleb Porter. The club has undergone a major rebuild since parting ways with head coach/sporting director Bruce Arena — who was at the helm when Turner left — in September 2023.
But Turner has also never been too far away. He visited the Revolution training center during the European offseason, and attended the Inter Miami game at Gillette Stadium on July 9. Fans even started cheering his name when they spotted him seated with his family along the sideline.
“Even after I left, I never stopped being a Revolution supporter,” Turner said. “This club means so much to me and my family. Winning the Supporters’ Shield…those memories stay with you for life.
“We were honestly blown away by the reception at the Miami game…Walking in front of the supporters — I’ll admit, I was nervous. I was sweating just thinking about it. But the love we felt that day was special. It had been a long time since I felt that kind of embrace from a crowd.”
Turner will be available for selection on Saturday as the Revolution host DC United and look to snap their nine-match winless slide and a seven-game winless run at home, currently the worst in franchise history at Gillette Stadium.
“It’s good to be back in a place where I know I’m loved,” Turner said. “That said, I’m not here to just take a lap. I’m here to work. I know the club is going through a tough stretch this season, and I want to bring back that winning mentality.
“This club has changed since I left in 2022. We’re in a playoff hunt — currently below the line — but I absolutely back myself to help us win games. I’ve been part of late playoff pushes before… MLS is a league of streaks. If we get hot at the right time, anything is possible — and I’m really excited to see what we can accomplish.”
Notably, Turner did not close the door on returning to Europe in the future and referred to starting in next summer’s World Cup — which the U.S. will co-host with Mexico and Canada — as his ultimate objective. He has Pochettino’s support as he looks to regain the starting role for the U.S.
“Now, looking at this journey, coming back to New England feels right,” Turner said. “It gives me the opportunity to hone my skills, build new connections, play regularly, and rediscover joy in the sport. When I’m happy, I play my best — for both club and country.
“And honestly, if you look back at some of my best performances with the national team, sure, the World Cup was amazing — but a lot of my strongest games happened while I was here in New England.”
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