The role of a goalkeeper has changed drastically since the Premier League got underway in 1992, with the majority of keepers in today’s game needing to be as good in possession as they are shot-stoppers.
Nowadays, sides build their attacks from their No.1s, but when all is said and done, who is the greatest goalkeeper in Premier League history?
Ranking factors
Appearances
Longevity
Clean sheets
Personal honours
What others have said about them
20 best goalkeepers in Premier League history: in pictures
|Top 20 goalkeepers in Premier League history|
|Rank|Player|Clubs played for|
|1|Petr Cech|Chelsea|
|2|Peter Schmeichel|Man Utd, Aston Villa, Man City|
|3|Edwin van der Sar|Fulham, Man Utd|
|4|David Seaman|Arsenal, Man City|
|5|David de Gea|Man Utd|
|6|Alisson|Liverpool|
|7|Ederson|Man City|
|8|Joe Hart|Man City, Birmingham, West Ham, Burnley|
|9|David James|Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Man City, Portsmouth|
|10|Pepe Reina|Liverpool, Aston Villa|
|11|Shay Given|Blackburn, Newcastle, Man City, Aston Villa, Stoke|
|12|Brad Friedel|Liverpool, Blackburn, Aston Villa, Tottenham|
|13|Mark Schwarzer|Middlesbrough, Fulham, Chelsea, Leicester|
|14|Tim Howard|Man Utd, Everton|
|15|Nigel Martyn|Crystal Palace, Leeds, Everton|
|16|Thibaut Courtois|Chelsea|
|17|Jens Lehmann|Arsenal|
|18|Hugo Lloris|Tottenham|
|19|Kasper Schmeichel|Man City, Leicester|
|20|Ben Foster|Man Utd, Watford, Birmingham, West Brom|
|---|
20 Ben Foster
Man Utd, Watford, Birmingham, West Brom
Starting the countdown is Ben Foster - the goalkeeper who has made the most saves in Premier League history with 1,248.
The Englishman never lifted a Premier League title after coming through the academy at Man Utd but was a key player for the likes of Watford, Birmingham and West Brom between 2006-2022.
Ben Foster's Premier League stats
Games
Clean sheets
Penalties saved
Saves
19 Kasper Schmeichel
Man City, Leicester
Part of the historic Leicester City title-winning team in 2015/16 was Kasper Schmeichel, who was key under Claudio Ranieri at the King Power Stadium.
After coming through Man City’s academy, Schmeichel made a name for himself with the Foxes and has turned out 284 times in the Premier League. A Leicester legend, Gary Neville has hailed Schmeichel as a goalkeeper with a “huge personality”.
Kasper Schmeichel's Premier League stats
Games
Clean sheets
Penalties saved
Saves
Titles
18 Hugo Lloris
Tottenham
Hugo Lloris made more than 360 top flight appearances for Tottenham between 2012-2024, becoming a Spurs legend during that time.
Called “one of the best goalkeepers in the world” alongside the likes of Manuel Neuer back in 2014 by former manager Mauricio Pochettino, Lloris was a brilliant shot-stopper and captain and was hailed as a “fantastic leader” by Harry Kane.
Hugo Lloris's Premier League stats
Games
Clean sheets
Penalties saved
Saves
17 Jens Lehmann
Arsenal
Jens Lehmann made quite the impact in the Premier League with Arsenal after joining from Borussia Dortmund, playing every league game of the 2003/04 season where the Gunners went unbeaten.
He did make numerous mistakes in north London which resulted in the German being alternated with Manuel Almunia, however, he is the only shot-stopper who can say he has gone unbeaten in a whole top-flight campaign.
Jens Lehmann's Premier League stats
Games
Clean sheets
Saves
Titles
16 Thibaut Courtois
Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois would only spend four seasons in the Premier League with Chelsea, but he certainly made an impact at Stamford Bridge, which led to a move to Real Madrid in 2018.
The towering Belgian won two top-flight titles with the Blues as well as the FA Cup and League Cup, while also collecting the Premier League’s Golden Glove award in 2016/17.
Still regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Courtois was hailed as “different class” by iconic centre-back John Terry while at Chelsea.
Thibaut Courtois's Premier League stats
Games
Clean sheets
Saves
Penalties saved
Titles
15 Nigel Martyn
Crystal Palace, Leeds, Everton
Nigel Martyn, the first £1m transferred goalkeeper, was one of the early Premier League greats in goal, starring for Crystal Palace, Leeds and Everton between 1992-2006.
He was dubbed outstanding at Elland Road with Leeds, where more than 200 of his Premier League appearances came, and would have earned a lot more caps for England if it wasn’t for another goalkeeper on this list.
Nigel Martyn's Premier League stats
Games
Clean sheets
Assists
14 Tim Howard
Man Utd, Everton
After playing second fiddle during the majority of his Man Utd career, Tim Howard would go on to become a Premier League star with Everton between 2006-2016. The USA icon even found the back of the net against Bolton in 2012, becoming the fourth goalkeeper to score in the Premier League.
It was his reliable shot-stopping ability that made him a top-flight great, though, with Roberto Martinez even calling Howard “faultless”.
Tim Howard's Premier League stats
Games
Clean sheets
Saves
Penalties saved
Goals
13 Mark Schwarzer
Middlesbrough, Fulham, Chelsea, Leicester
Another extremely solid goalkeeper was Mark Schwarzer, who is the only player from outside the UK to play 500 or more Premier League games.
The Australian also managed to pick up back-to-back Premier League winners medals with different clubs, something that has never been done before. Schwarzer served as second or even third choice with Leicester and Chelsea and was 43 when the Blues won the title in 2017.
In his prime, with Middlesbrough and Fulham, Schwarzer was one of the best shot-stoppers around.
Mark Schwarzer's Premier League stats
Games
Clean sheets
Assists
Titles
12 Brad Friedel
Liverpool, Blackburn, Aston Villa, Tottenham
Continuing the trend of ‘Barclaysmen' is Brad Friedel, who is arguably one of the first underrated goalkeepers you think of in the Premier League between 2001-2016.
Best known for his time at Blackburn and Aston Villa, Friedel is actually the current holder of the Premier League record for most consecutive appearances with 310 over an eight-year period and is also another keeper who has scored.
Brad Friedel's Premier League stats
Games
Clean sheets
Saves
Penalties saved
Goals
11 Shay Given
Blackburn, Newcastle, Man City, Aston Villa, Stoke
Shay Given played for five different Premier League clubs, but it was at St James’ Park with Newcastle where he became a top-flight legend, being named in the Premier League PFA Team of the Year twice.
Some have said that Given will go down as Newcastle’s greatest ever goalkeeper, with the Irishman making more than 350 league appearances for the Magpies.
Shay Given's Premier League stats
Games
Clean sheets
Assists