Lincoln City have signed Australian goalkeeper, Joe Gauci on a season-long loan from Aston Villa.
This move is Gauci’s third loan spell in English football since he joined Villa from Adelaide United in February 2024, having kept 11 clean sheets and conceded 40 goals in 41 appearances for Port Vale last season as the Valiants were relegated from League One to League Two.
Lincoln City’s Goalkeeping Coach, David Preece explained that Gauci is their ideal loan signing needed to challenge goalkeepers, George Wickens and Jamie Pardington.
“Joe has a lot of the qualities that we want in a goalkeeper, but most importantly he is ambitious, driven and comes knowing that George is our No.1, but with the aim and desire to compete with him for a place in the team.
“I have followed him since his days at Adelaide United, the club has tracked him since he joined Aston Villa and Joe will add brilliant depth to our goalkeeping department.”
Lincoln City’s Sporting Director, Jez George added that Gauci will initially serve as second-choice goalkeeper but has the potential to challenge Wickens.
“Joe comes in as our No.2 goalkeeper, but what attracted us to him, as well as his undoubted ability and attributes, is his mentality and desire to back himself to compete with George, who he knows starts the season as our No.1 goalkeeper.
“With Jamie, we now have real depth in our goalkeeping department. We are aiming for two players who believe they should start in every position across the squad, so this is no different.
“Therefore, we have used a loan to create genuine competition for George rather than a goalkeeper who is a ‘specialist No.2’ in the Championship.”
George added that the loan signing also gives the Imps flexibility in case Zach Jeacock’s loan at Northampton Town is successful.
“It also gives us complete flexibility next summer, based on numerous factors including Zach Jeacock’s progress, which is why a one-year solution made total sense.”
Gauci began his senior career at Adelaide United where he made 76 appearances before he moved to Villa, where he featured in their two Carabao Cup matches in the 2024-25 season.
He then spent the second half of that campaign on loan at Barnsley where he made just seven appearances.
Leave a Reply