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Goalkeeping is a tough job, be it the Premier League or any other competition in the world. It's not often you see shot-stoppers get the praise they deserve. But every manager knows the importance of a consistent goalkeeper, one who can serve the club for years.
Goalkeepers also generally have a much-longer career than outfield players. They can maintain the level of their performances over decades. This is why goalkeepers such as Gianluigi Buffon and Edwin van der Sar were crucial to their teams despite their age.
The Premier League is home to several veteran shot-stoppers
Currently in the Premier League too, there are goalkeepers who are above 30 years of age and are going strong. In this article, we will rank the top five goalkeepers in the Premier League who are above the age of 30.
Two of these players are currently 34 years old, one of them is 36 while another is 38. The youngest goalkeeper on the list turned 30 in November last year.
#5 Ben Foster (Watford)
Watford's Ben Foster is the oldest goalkeeper on the list at 38 years and six months. Foster made his Premier League debut in the 2007-08 season for Manchester United. He spent five seasons at the club from 2005 to 2010, winning two Premier League titles in the process.
He couldn't break into United's first eleven, however, and subsequently moved to Birmingham City. After a season with the club, Foster made his initial loan move to West Brom permanent in 2012. He made 223 appearances for them, keeping 57 clean sheets in six seasons.
The 38-year-old then moved to his current home, Watford, in 2018. He has since been a permanent fixture in their starting eleven, despite all the managerial turmoil they have been going through. The veteran has made six Premier League appearances this season, conceding 11 goals in the process.
#4 Lukasz Fabianski (West Ham United)
Lukasz Fabianski is the second oldest player on this list at 36 years and six months of age. He moved to England in 2007, joining Arsenal from Legia Warsaw. The Polish shot-stopper spent seven seasons at the club but only once did he make more than 10 Premier League appearances for the Gunners, 14 in the 2010-11 season.
A move to Swansea followed in 2014, where he became number one from the very start. In 150 appearances for them, Fabianski kept 39 cleans sheets. West Ham United then came calling in 2018, and he found a new lease of life.
He has since made 111 appearances for the Hammers, keeping 29 clean sheets in the process. The 36-year-old, all in all, has played 288 matches in the Premier League. Fabianski continues to remain one of the most important players at West Ham and has notched up three clean sheets in 10 leagueg ames this term.
#3 Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur)
Hugo Lloris has now entered his 10th Premier League season with Tottenham Hotspur after joining the north London outfit in 2012. Now captain of the club, Lloris has represented Spurs in 383 matches across competitions and has kept 129 clean sheets.
The Frenchman has been highly successful with his national team, winning the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 UEFA Nations League. With Spurs, however, Lloris has failed to win silverware. He led the side to the Champions League final in 2019, but they lost to Liverpool in the decider.
At 34 years and 10 months of age, Lloris only has one player younger than him on this list. He has started all 10 matches for Tottenham this season, but has only managed to keep three clean sheets as the club lie in eighth spot in the league table.
#2 Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)
At 36 years and 11 months of age, Kasper Schmeichel is still going strong. The son of legendary Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, Kasper played an integral role in Leicester City's ride to the Premier League title in the 2015-16 season. He led the Foxes to an FA Cup title in the 2020-21 season as well.
Having joined Leicester City in 2011, Schmeichel has made 440 appearances for the club, keeping 139 clean sheets. After three seasons in the Championship with the Foxes, Schmeichel made his Premier League debut in the 2014-15 season.
The Denmark international played all 38 league matches of the famous 2015-16 season, keeping 15 clean sheets in the process. Despite the Dane enduring a tough start to the ongoing season with Leicester, there is no denying his capabilities as a reliable shot-stopper.
#1 David de Gea (Manchester United)
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the Premier League over the last 10 seasons. The Spaniard joined Manchester United in 2011 and initially struggled adapting to English football. However, over time, De Gea grew into his role as Manchester United no.1 and became the club's most important player.
The Spain international became the first goalkeeper to be awarded Manchester United's Sir Matt Busby player of the year award in 2013-14. He won the award twice more in consecutive seasons and again for his heroics in the 2017-18 season.
De Gea's form dipped in the 2020-21 Premier League season and he often found himself on the bench with Dean Henderson taking his place between the sticks. However, he has again found form and has probably been Manchester United's best player in the ongoing season. In total, De Gea has made 454 appearances for the club across competitions, keeping 157 clean sheets in the process.
