On 11 May 2018, Reading announced that they had offered a new contract to Luke Southwood,[3] with a new two-year contract being confirmed as signed on 2 July 2018.[4]
On 7 May 2021, Reading announced that Southwood had signed a new two-year contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2023.[5]
Loans
On 4 August 2017, Southwood joined Bath City on a six-month loan deal,[6] which was extended until the end of the season on 3 January 2018.[7] He was awarded player of the season after an outstanding year.
On 24 December 2018, Southwood joined Eastleigh on an initial one-month loan deal, with the loan being extended until the end of the season on 24 January 2019.[8] Eastleigh managed to get to the semi-finals of the National League play-offs with Southwood playing a key part in that, also getting player of the month in April.
On 1 August 2019, Southwood joined Hamilton Academical on loan until 5 January 2020.[9] On 21 January 2020, Southwood signed a new contract with Reading until the summer of 2021, and then returned to Hamilton Academical on loan until the end of the season.[10]
On 22 July 2022, Southwood joined Cheltenham Town on a season-long loan deal. During that time he kept sixteen clean sheets in league one and helped them to a 16th place finish.[11]
On 17 May 2023, Reading announced that Southwood would leave the club at the end of his contract.[12]
Cheltenham Town
On 11 July 2023, Southwood returned to Cheltenham Town on a permanent one-year deal.[13] On 22 May 2024, the club announced he had rejected a new contract and would be leaving the club.[14]
In November 2021, Southwood was called up to the Northern Ireland national team for the first time, for whom he qualified for through a grandmother.[18] He debuted with Northern Ireland in a friendly 3–1 win over Luxembourg on 25 March 2022.[19]