While attackers and midfielders often steal the spotlight, football clubs are no longer afraid to splash the cash on top goalkeepers.
The role of the modern goalkeeper has changed as they are now expected to be experts with their feet as well as their hands.
We’ve taken a look at the 10 most expensive goalkeepers of all time and how they fared after making the big-money move.
Note: we’ve taken into account any potential add-ons when ranking the transfer fees.
10. Giorgi Mamardashvili – £29m
Year: 2024
From: Valencia
To: Liverpool
One of two Liverpool goalkeepers on this list, Mamardashvili cost the Reds an initial £25million and another £4million in add-ons.
The Georgia international remained at Valencia for the 2024/25 season but has now arrived at Anfield and will compete with Alisson for a starting berth in the side.
“They are looking at me as the Liverpool goalkeeper for the next 10 years,” he said. “My next step will be the same as it was in Valencia. I will go and prove myself and do what I can.
“The main thing is patience, training and hard work, and everything else will come by itself. I think it will be good, training with [Alisson] will help me grow too and I will gain a lot of experience with him.”
9= Jordan Pickford – £30m
Year: 2017
From: Sunderland
To: Everton
Pickford enjoyed an impressive breakthrough season at Sunderland in 2016/17 and was shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
After the Black Cats were relegated, he made a swift return to the Premier League and joined Everton in a deal worth an initial £25million and another £5million in add-ons.
That fee now looks like a bargain and the England international has won the Everton Player of the Season award in four of his eight seasons at the club.
Jordan Pickford of Everton
9= Aaron Ramsdale – £30m
Year: 2021
From: Sheffield United
To: Arsenal
While Ramsdale suffered back-to-back Premier League relegations with Bournemouth and Sheffield United, he also won the Player of the Year award at both clubs during those campaigns.
His performances attracted interest from Arsenal, who paid an initial £24million and another £6million in add-ons to secure his signature.
The England international usurped Bernd Leno to become Mikel Arteta’s No.1 goalkeeper and was named in the PFA Team of the Year in 2022/23.
But he was then replaced by David Raya at the start of the following season and joined Southampton in the summer of 2024 in a deal worth up to £25million.
7= Jasper Cillessen – £31.4m
Year: 2019
From: Barcelona
To: Valencia
Eyebrows were raised when Valencia agreed to pay £31.4million for Cillessen, who had made just five La Liga appearances during his three years at Barcelona.
The Netherlands international failed to justify that price tag and his time at the Mestalla was also plagued by a number of injury problems.
After losing his place in the team to Giorgi Mammardashvili in the 2021/22 season, he was then sold to Eredivisie club NEC Nijmegen for just €1million.
7= Thibaut Courtois – £31.4m
Year: 2018
From: Chelsea
To: Real Madrid
After refusing to sign a contract extension at Chelsea, Courtois completed a £31.4million move to Real Madrid.
The Belgium international had a difficult debut season at the Santiago Bernabeu but has since cemented his status as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
He has helped Madrid win three La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues, a Copa del Rey, two UEFA Super Cups and the FIFA World Club Cup.
The 33-year-old was particularly outstanding in the 2021/22 Champions League triumph, making a record number of saves in the final victory over Liverpool.
Current world no. 1 between the sticks, Thibaut Courtois, turns 31 today!! 🎉
Let's run it 🔙 to his phenomenal #UCL winning performance against Liverpool last year… 📽️ pic.twitter.com/Dbq7I0lpMh
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 11, 2023
5. Gianluigi Buffon – £32.6m
Year: 2001
From: Parma
To: Juventus
Having sold Zinedine Zidane to Real Madrid in the summer of 2001, Juventus splashed the cash and made Buffon the world’s most expensive goalkeeper.
The former Italy international proved to be a relative bargain, making 656 appearances in all competitions over the following 17 years while winning nine Serie A titles, Serie B and four Coppa Italia trophies.
He said: “If we go back to my signing at Juve, the amount of money they spent on me had every critic saying the exact same thing: ‘No, you can’t pay that much money for a goalkeeper.’
“And, you know, it’s right that those conversations happen as well. But in the end, I was at Juventus for 17 years. I think that with me, Juve made one of the best pieces of business in their history. If you look at it now, I doubt anyone could disagree with that.”
4. Ederson – £34.7m
Year: 2018
From: Benfica
To: Manchester City
Buffon’s 16-year reign as the world’s most expensive goalkeeper came to an end in 2017 when Manchester City signed Ederson from Benfica in a £34.7million deal.
He immediately replaced Claudio Bravo in Pep Guardiola’s starting XI and established himself as one of the best ball-playing goalkeepers in the world.
The Brazil international is now a six-time Premier League champion, a four-time Carabao Cup winner and a two-time FA Cup winner.
He also lifted the Champions League trophy in 2022/23 after producing a brilliant performance against Inter Milan in the final.
WHAT A SAVE FROM EDERSON!! 🤩
Has that moment just won them the Champions League…? 👀#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/NW3wYwYoaD
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) June 10, 2023
3. Andre Onana – £47.2m
Year: 2023
From: Inter Milan
To: Manchester United
Having worked with Onana at Ajax, Erik ten Hag identified the goalkeeper as his top target to replace David de Gea at Manchester United.
He arrived at Old Trafford after United agreed to pay Inter Milan an initial £43.8million and an additional £3.4million in add-ons.
But in the last two seasons the Cameroon international has made eight errors leading to goals in all competitions, the most of any goalkeeper playing for a Premier League club.
He has faced a lot of criticism and was described as “one of the worst keepers” in the club’s history by former United midfielder Nemanja Matic.
2. Alisson Becker – £65m
Year: 2018
From: Roma
To: Liverpool
After Loris Karius’ nightmare in the 2018 Champions League final, Liverpool brought Alisson to Anfield in a deal worth an initial £56million and £9million in add-ons.
The Brazil international has proved a transformative signing for the Reds, helping them win the Champions League, two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup and the FIFA World Club Cup.
He’s also picked up a host of individual accolades, including the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award, the Yashin Trophy and two Golden Gloves.
“If I knew Alisson was this good I would have paid double,” former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted.
🚫 Alisson Becker denies Barcelona, again & again…#UCL | @LFC pic.twitter.com/PkvBvVDuN1
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 14, 2019
1. Kepa Arrizabalaga – £71.6m
Year: 2018
From: Athletic Bilbao
To: Chelsea
After selling Courtois and missing out on Alisson, Chelsea triggered the £71.6million release clause in Kepa’s Athletic Bilbao contract.
He made a string of errors during his first two years at Stamford Bridge and notably had a high-profile row with then-manager Maurizio Sarri during the 2019 League Cup final.
The Spain international was demoted to being the back-up goalkeeper after Chelsea signed Edouard Mendy in the summer of 2020.
He joined Real Madrid on a season-long loan deal in 2023 and spent the following season on loan at Bournemouth before completing a £5million move to Arsenal.
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