Michael Cooper leaves Argyle

Michael Cooper has signed for Sheffield United in a deal that has the potential to break Argyle’s outgoing transfer record.  

The Blades and Argyle have also agreed performance-related add-ons which could increase the future total fee, and a clause which means that the Greens would net a percentage of the profit from any future transfer involving Cooper.  

The goalkeeper, who will turn 25 in October, played 161 times for Argyle, his only professional club, for whom he signed when he was 11.  

Born in Exeter, Cooper soon became a Pilgrim, and moved through centres of excellence to the Academy, often under the tutelage of former Argyle goalkeeping stalwart Rhys Wilmot.  

In October 2017, having just turned 18 and still an apprentice, Cooper unexpectedly made his debut away at Blackburn Rovers, coming on for an injured Kyle Letheren, who himself was Argyle’s third-choice goalkeeper at the time. The game was 1-1 when Cooper came on at half-time, and stayed that way until the end, with the debutant making some heroic saves.  

His second league appearance was also as a substitute, in different, yet still challenging, circumstances. It was the final game of the 2018/19 season, and Argyle were looking to win their final game to stay in League One. Cooper came on for the injured Matt Macey with the score at 2-2. They won the game 3-2 but results elsewhere sent the Pilgrims down anyway.  

After a season deputising for loanee Alex Palmer as Argyle bounced back with promotion, Cooper was given the job as first-choice keeper for the first game of the 2020/21 season in League One and proceeded to play every league game for the next two full seasons.  

The following season, after 121 consecutive league games between the sticks, he injured his knee at Sheffield Wednesday, in February, which meant he missed the closing months of a promotion-winning campaign.  

Last season, Cooper returned from injury in October, but managed just nine games before succumbing to a separate knee issue. He returned to play the final ten games of Argyle’s season, showing his prowess and helping the Greens secure their Championship status.  

He departs Home Park as an Academy graduate that we are hugely proud of; a very fine goalkeeper, as good as has worn the Mayflower badge in many a year.   

From Blackburn in 2018, to Hull City in 2024, and the 159 appearances in between: thank you, Coops. Good luck.