In the summer of 2018, Liverpool signed goalkeeper Alisson Becker for €60.5 million from Roma in what was the biggest goalkeeping transfer of all time. Then a few days later, Chelsea said “hold my beer” and clinched a transfer worth €80 million for Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic. – This is to this day the most expensive goalkeeper transfer. (See top 20 at the bottom)
There is little doubt about who drew the shortest straw.
Arsenal are reportedly considering bringing in a new goalkeeper. The London club have been linked with Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia (24), but it now looks like the goalkeeper will instead go to Barcelona.
On Thursday, Italian Sky reported that Arsenal are considering signing Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (30), who was on loan at Bournemouth last season. According to Sky, the goalkeeper is for sale for five million pounds.
Read: RB Leipzig don’t want to sell Xavi Simons cheaply
Arrizabalaga made 35 appearances for Bournemouth last season and is initially under contract with Chelsea until the summer of 2026.
Arsenal already have David Raya in their goalkeeping squad. Last season, Neto was also on loan from Bournemouth and played one game for the “Gunners”.
Read on English clubs: Almost 30 transfers in the Premier League in the first four days
Top 20 Most Expensive Goalkeeper Transfers
- Kepa Arrizabalaga – Athletic Bilbao → Chelsea (2018) – €80M
- Alisson – Roma → Liverpool (2018) – €62,5M
- Thibaut Courtois – Chelsea → Real Madrid (2018) – €35M
- Ederson – Benfica → Manchester City (2017) – €40M
- André Onana – Inter → Manchester United (2023) – €51M
- Jordan Pickford – Sunderland → Everton (2017) – €28,5M
- Aaron Ramsdale – Sheffield United → Arsenal (2021) – €28M
- Francesco Toldo – Fiorentina → Inter (2001) – €26,5M
- Bernd Leno – Bayer Leverkusen → Arsenal (2018) – €25M
- Manuel Neuer – Schalke 04 → Bayern Munich (2011) – €24M
- Fraser Forster – Celtic → Southampton (2014) – €23M
- Claudio Bravo – Barcelona → Manchester City (2016) – €18M
- Samir Handanović – Udinese → Inter (2012) – €15M
- David de Gea – Atlético Madrid → Manchester United (2011) – €25M* (*incl. bonuses)
- Jan Oblak – Benfica → Atlético Madrid (2014) – €16M
- Wojciech Szczęsny – Arsenal → Juventus (2017) – €15M
- Emiliano Martínez – Arsenal → Aston Villa (2020) – €20M
- Gianluigi Buffon – Parma → Juventus (2001) – €52M* (*record at the time, equivalent to ~€100M today)
- Marc-André ter Stegen – Gladbach → Barcelona (2014) – €12M
- Keylor Navas – Levante → Real Madrid (2014) – €10M
Notes:
- Buffon’s transfer was for a long time the most expensive ever, but inflation and increased transfer fees have changed the list.
- Some sums include bonuses, while others are fixed fees.
- Prices may vary slightly depending on sources.
