In football, while forwards are usually the ones scoring goals, goalkeepers do the opposite job, which is preventing goals. They utilize all their abilities to keep their team's goal intact and avoid conceding. Saving a goal sometimes holds a value thousand times greater than scoring one. Moreover, in modern football, the position and role of goalkeepers are even more crucial. Therefore, big clubs spare no expense in recruiting outstanding goalkeepers, leading to exorbitant transfer fees. In the article below, let's rank the Top 10 the most expensive goalkeeper is in history with admin Wintips. Let's guess who they are!
Top 10 the most expensive goalkeeper all of time
1/ Kepa Arrizabalaga (€80m)
Kepa Arrizabalaga is considered the most expensive goalkeeper in the world with a transfer price of 80 million euros from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea in 2018. Kepa has made many important contributions to Chelsea winning trophies such as the FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League.
He is a talented young goalkeeper with excellent skills such as quick reflexes, solid catches and the ability to get in and out of the goal properly. However, Kepa has also encountered some problems recently. He made a number of mistakes in the matches, causing Chelsea to concede goals. This cost him his official place in Chelsea's squad.
2/ Alisson (€65m) - Most expensive goalkeeper
Alisson Becker is one of the most expensive goalkeepers in the world with a transfer price of 62,5 million euros from AS Roma to Liverpool in 2018. He is a Brazilian goalkeeper with excellent skills such as quick reflexes, solid catches and the ability to get in and out of the goal properly.
Alisson can do all the tasks of a goalkeeper well, from catching the ball, getting in and out of the goal to commanding the defense. He has made many important contributions to help Liverpool win trophies such as the Champions League, Premier League and FIFA Club World Cup. He is also a member of the Brazil national team.
3/ Gianluigi Buffon (€53m) - Most expensive goalkeeper
Ranked 3rd among the most expensive goalkeepers in the world, Gianluigi Buffon had a transfer price of 52,88 million euros from Parma to Juventus in 2001. He is an Italian goalkeeper with excellent skills such as quick reflexes, solid catches and the ability to get in and out of the goal properly.
Buffon has made many important contributions to Juventus winning trophies such as Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League. He was also a member of the Italian national team and was part of the team that won the World Cup in 2006.
4/ Andre Onana (€50m)
Andre Onana's presence between the posts provides a sense of security for his team, as his commanding presence and ability to organize the defense instill confidence in his teammates. His agility and athleticism allow him to make acrobatic saves and intervene effectively in one-on-one situations. Additionally, Onana's distribution skills are top-notch. Enabling him to initiate quick counterattacks with accurate long-range passes or precise throws to launch his team's offensive transitions.
Off the field, Onana is known for his professionalism and leadership qualities. Serving as a role model for younger players both at club level and on the international stage. Despite his young age, he has already established himself as one of the premier goalkeepers in world football, and his potential for further development suggests that he could become one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation.
5/ Gianluigi Donnarumma (€45m) - Most expensive goalkeeper
It would be remiss to overlook Gianluigi Donnarumma in the list of the most expensive goalkeepers in the world, as he commanded a transfer fee of up to 45 million euros from AC Milan to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. Before that, AC Milan had made numerous attempts to extend his contract, but at that time, PSG's transfer fee was too enticing for Donnarumma to refuse.
Donnarumma has made significant contributions to AC Milan's achievements in Serie A, Coppa Italia, and Supercoppa Italiana. He is also a member of the Italian national team. Particularly noteworthy is Donnarumma's young age and potential for further development, making him a candidate to become one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world in the future.
6/ Mike Maignan (€45m) - Most expensive goalkeeper
One more goalkeeper in the top most expensive goalkeepers in the world, that is Mike Maignan – French goalkeeper currently playing for AC Milan club in Serie A. He joined AC Milan for 45 million euros in 2021. Maignan is a goalkeeper who has quick reflexes, reasonable access to goal and good situational judgment.
Maignan is considered an all-round goalkeeper and can play in a variety of defensive systems. M. Maignan started playing football at an early age and made his professional debut for Lille in 2015. He then helped Lille win the Ligue 1 title in 2021. Until joining AC Milan, Maignan helped Milan win the Serie A title in 2022.
7/ Diogo Costa (€45m)
Costa, who has become the number one goalkeeper for Portugal, stands out with his ability to use his feet and his skill in making long passes from the back - both with his hands and feet. His proficiency in using his feet translates to Costa feeling comfortable when facing opponent's pressing and providing options for his teammates under pressure.
In terms of his goalkeeping ability, Costa is a talented goalkeeper with excellent reflexes, capable of commanding his penalty area, and keeping clean sheets in more than half of the matches he has played up until the 2022-23 season.
8/ Thibaut Courtois (€45m) - Most expensive goalkeeper
The list of the most expensive goalkeepers in the world also features Thibaut Courtois, the Belgian goalkeeper currently playing for Real Madrid in La Liga. He is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world at present. Courtois is valued at €45 million and ranks 7th on this list of expensive goalkeepers.
He has helped Real Madrid win the La Liga title in 2019, 2020, and 2022, the UEFA Champions League in 2018 and 2022, and the UEFA Super Cup in 2019, 2020, and 2022. Courtois is regarded as a complete goalkeeper who can adapt to various defensive systems. This season, injuries have limited the former Chelsea star's appearances for Real Madrid. However, he is predicted to make a swift return.
9/ Ederson (€40m) - Most expensive goalkeeper
Ederson Moraes, the Brazilian goalkeeper currently playing for Manchester City in the Premier League, ranks 8th among the most expensive goalkeepers in the world. Ederson is known for his excellent footwork, especially in long-range passing. He also possesses strong anticipation and quick reflexes.
He has helped City win the Premier League title in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022, the FA Cup in 2018 and 2019, the League Cup in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, and the UEFA Champions League in 2021. The Brazilian goalkeeper has consistently held the number 1 position in Manchester City's goal as well as for the national team.
10/ Aaron Ramsdale (€40m)
On the morning of August 21, 2021, Arsenal's official website announced the successful signing of Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United. According to Sky Sports, the "Gunners" have spent £24 million and included additional clauses depending on the contributions of the English goalkeeper to the club. Sheffield United will receive a maximum of £30 million from Ramsdale's transfer.
Additionally, Bournemouth will receive a 15% sell-on fee if Arsenal sells the goalkeeper to any club for more than £19 million. After acquiring the 23-year-old goalkeeper, the Emirates Stadium-based club allowed backup goalkeeper Alex Runarsson to leave. Ramsdale is Arsenal's fifth signing in the 2021 summer transfer window. Previously, the Emirates-based team had signed defender Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Odegaard, and Nuno Tavares.
Conclude
The world's top goalkeepers are synonymous with hefty transfer values. However, as mentioned at the beginning of the article, investing in the goalkeeper position in modern football is extremely crucial. Goalkeepers often serve as the catalyst for scoring opportunities. Therefore, they fully deserve the high price tags attached to them. We hope you enjoy this article and continue to support our best online bookmaker website even more.
See also: The most famous Muslim soccer players in the world
