The inflation that has hit the world of now affects all clubs, large and small, rich and poor alike. But where money used to be spent trying to recruit attacking players capable of winning games, it is increasingly diverted towards their defensive counterparts. After years of being overlooked, the match-winning value of goalkeepers is finally being reflected in the transfer market.
The largest sum paid for a shot-stopper was not surpassed for 17 years until it was shattered twice in the same summer of 2018. The recent flux of lucrative acquisitions has been littered with flops and fan favourites, underscoring the enduring unpredictability of football's transfer market. Here's a closer look at the most expensive goalkeepers of all time and how they coped with their hefty price tag.
Most Expensive Goalkeepers in Football History 1 Kepa Arrizabalaga Athletic Club Chelsea 2018 £67.2m 2 Alisson Becker AS Roma Liverpool 2018 £52.5m 3 Gianluigi Buffon Parma Juventus 2001 £44.
4m 4 Andre Onana Inter Milan Manchester United 2023 £42.2m 5 Ederson SL Benfica Manchester City 2017 £33.6m 6 Jasper Cillessen Barcelona Valencia 2019 £29.
4m 7 Thibaut Courtois Chelsea Real Madrid 2018 £29.4m 8 David Raya Brentford Arsenal 2024 £26.8m 9 Manuel Neuer Schalke 04 Bayern Munich 2011 £25.
2m 10 Jordan Pickford Sunderland Everton 2017 £24m 11 Aaron Ramsdale Sheffield United Arsenal 2021 £23.5m All transfer fees have been converted from euros to pounds. When signed for in 2021, it was no exag.