5 most expensive goalkeepers in football history

Goalkeepers are the last line of a team's defense. So it's imperative that title-winning teams - be it in league or international football - need to have quality custodians in place.

Over the years, especially in the last two decades, the goalkeeping position has evolved a lot. It no longer suffices for a team's goalkeeper to make saves and keep their citadel intact. Goalkeepers have become an essential part of a team's offense, building attacks from the back in a quintessential sweeper role.

The likes of Victor Valdes, Manuel Neuer and Alisson Becker, to name a few, have played key roles for their respective teams in winning league and continental titles. On that note, here's a look at the five most expensive goalkeepers in the game's history.

#5 Jasper Cillessen (Valencia/Netherlands) - €32 million

Valencia acquired the services of Jasper Cillessen from Barcelona in the summer of 2019. But the Netherlands international has played only 31 games in all competitions, missing large swathes of last season due to injury.

However, Cillessen has shone in Oranje colors, recently becoming only the fifth goalkeeper to make 50 appearances for the team.

Previously, Cillessen, a ball-playing goalkeeper, arrived at Barcelona from Ajax and was renowned for his ball-distribution prowess and ability to operate in high defensive lines.

But during his three-year stay at Camp Nou, the Dutchman mostly played Cup games and struggled to keep out penalties, making the first save of his career in 20 attempts during a 2019 Copa Del Rey game.

Cillessen was famously subbed out for Tim Krul just before the Netherlands' 2014 FIFA World Cup quarter-final shootout against Costa Rica, which they won. But the Netherlands couldn't do so in the semi-final against Argentina and ended up losing.

#4 Ederson (Manchester City/Brazil) - €40 million

Manchester City dished out €40 million for Ederson's services in the summer of 2017. Four years later, it is safe to say that the Brazilian has been one of their best-ever investments in recent years.

The 27-year-old has become an integral part of Pep Guardiola's all-conquering City team, winning three league titles during his four years at the club. Ederson has kept an impressive 95 clean sheets in 192 games in all competitions for the club, keeping at least 17 shutouts in each of his four Premier League campaigns.

It is clear to see why the Brazilian has been Guardiola's first-choice keeper since arriving at the Etihad. Ederson is a quintessential ball-playing goalkeeper, which makes him a great fit in the Spanish tactician's system.

Ederson, who played four games for Brazil at Copa America 2021, has an impressive record for his national team too, keeping ten clean sheets in 16 games. But his failure to do so in the final against Argentina cost Brazil the Copa America title, although there was little he could have done to keep out that Angel di Maria finish.

#3 Gianluigi Buffon (Parma/Italy) - €52.9 million

Gianluigi Buffon is arguably one of the best goalkeepers to have graced the game. During a legendary career for club and country, Buffon has kept clean sheets and won accolades galore.

His transfer to Juventus in the summer of 2001 made him the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of the game, a record that stood for nearly two decades.

The 2006 FIFA World Cup winner has kept over 400 clean sheets in his club career, with a record 299 of them coming in the Serie A. However, with decreased game time since his return to Juventus after a one-season stint with PSG in 2019, Buffon has moved back to his boyhood club Parma this summer.

The 43-year-old isn't necessarily a ball-playing keeper but possesses excellent shot-stopping prowess and commands his box like few else.

In 2021-22, Buffon will play only his second season in the Italian second division after his only such campaign coming for Juventus in 2006-07 after the infamous Calciopoli scandal.

Buffon has also been a standout performer for Italy, having kept a staggering 77 clean sheets in over 170 appearances for the Azzurri between 1997 and 2018.

#2 Alisson Becker (Liverpool/Brazil) - €62.5 million

Alisson Becker, more commonly known only by his first name, is one of the best goalkeepers in the game at the moment.

The former AS Roma custodian has been key in Liverpool winning the Champions League and Premier League titles in successive seasons. Alisson is strong in the air, has good shot-stopping prowess and often starts attacks for club and country from the back.

Last season, the keeper made a few high-profile errors as Liverpool failed to defend their Premier League title. Nevertheless, Alisson made news by becoming the first goalkeeper in the club's history to score from open play. His late winner proved pivotal as the Reds unexpectedly qualified for the Champions League after a debilitating mid-season slump.

The 28-year-old has kept an impressive 32 shutouts in almost 50 appearances for Brazil, 20 of them coming in competitive games.

#1 Kepa Arrizabalaga - €80 million

Chelsea smashed the transfer record for a goalkeeper when they acquired Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao for €80 million in the summer of 2018.

But three years later, it can be said that Arrizabalaga, more commonly known by his first name, has failed to do justice to his enormous price tag. A plethora of high-profile errors, especially in the 2019-20 campaign, almost derailed Chelsea's bid for a top-four finish.

Despite his promising start at Bilbao, Kepa has particularly struggled in one-on-one situations in the Premier League, prematurely rushing out of his line and exhibiting generally poor decision-making.

Kepa remains a Chelsea keeper for now, but the arrival of the excellent Edouard Mendy meant the Spaniard played only 14 games across competitions last season. It remains to be seen if Kepa can improve enough to provide Mendy with tougher competition.

About the author

Bhargav is a veteran sports journalist and editor at Sportskeeda, with a rich professional experience of 17 years, working for the likes of Siemens and Bombay Dyeing. An avid football and tennis follower for over three decades, Bhargav uses his vast knowledge and experience, attention to detail, an unbiased yet interesting writing style, and thorough research to craft insightful articles, which have raked in over 20 million reads so far.

Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.

Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.

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Edited by Sankalp Srivastava