A British website compiled a list of the 15 most expensive goalkeepers in the history of football, and despite the huge increase in transfer fees for some goalkeepers, they are still far from the prices of players, especially those in attacking positions.
After years of neglect, the value and importance of goalkeepers in winning matches was finally reflected in the transfer market, after the largest amount paid for a goalkeeper remained standing for 17 years (Italian Gianluigi Buffon) was destroyed twice in the summer of 2018.
Although Buffon fell to third place, he remains the most expensive among the goalkeepers, given that the value of his transfer in 2001 (44.4 million pounds sterling) is estimated at more than the value of the two goalkeepers who surpassed him on the list in 2018.
The list did not include goalkeeping legends in the twentieth century, because the value of player transfers was much lower than in the 21st century, and the market value of goalkeepers was very low compared to their value now.
The following is a list of the 15 most expensive goalkeepers in the history of football, according to the British website (Give Me Sport):
- Spaniard Kepa Arrizabalaga: He moved from Spain’s Athletic Bilbao to England’s Chelsea in 2018 for 67.2 million pounds sterling.
- Brazilian Alisson Becker: From Roma, Italy, to Liverpool, England, in 2018, for 52.5 million pounds sterling.
- Italian Gianluigi Buffon: From Italian club Parma to his compatriot Juventus in 2001 for 44.4 million pounds sterling.
- Cameroonian Andre Onana: From Inter Milan to Manchester United in 2023 for 42.2 million pounds sterling.
- Brazilian Ederson: from Portuguese Benfica to English Manchester City in 2017 for 33.6 million pounds sterling.
- Dutchman Jasper Cillessen: From Barcelona to his compatriot Valencia in 2019 for 29.4 million pounds sterling.
- Belgian Thibaut Courtois: From Chelsea of England to Real Madrid of Spain in 2018 for 29.4 million pounds sterling.
- Spaniard David Raya: From England’s Brentford to his compatriot Arsenal in 2024 for 26.8 million pounds sterling.
- Georgian Giorgi Mamardashvili: from Valencia, Spain, to Liverpool, England, in 2024, for 25.2 million pounds sterling.
- German Manuel Neuer: From Schalke 04 to his compatriot Bayern Munich in 2011 for 25.2 million pounds sterling.
- Englishman Jordan Pickford: From Sunderland to his compatriot Everton in 2017 for 24 million pounds sterling.
- Englishman Aaron Ramsdale: From Sheffield United to his compatriot Arsenal in 2021 for 23.5 million pounds sterling.
- Italian Francesco Toldo: From Italian Fiorentina to his compatriot Inter Milan in 2001 for 22.3 million pounds sterling.
- Italian Alex Meret: From Italian Udinese to his compatriot Napoli in 2019 for 21.9 million pounds sterling.
- Brazilian Neto: From Spanish Valencia to his compatriot Barcelona in 2019 for 21.9 million pounds sterling.
