While there’s no room for sympathy, it’s clear that being a top-tier goalkeeper doesn’t guarantee attention in the transfer market, especially when compared to players in more prominent positions.
Take Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain as a prime example, alongside Ederson of Manchester City and Mike Maignan from AC Milan. Each of these keepers ranks comfortably within the world’s top ten in their role, and several could even be contenders for the top five. In contrast, wingers, center-backs, strikers, and holding midfielders attract a flurry of offers, with clubs eager to secure their services.
However, the situation is different for goalkeepers. PSG and Man City are exploring expensive young alternatives, such as Lucas Chevalier and James Trafford. Rumors have linked Donnarumma with Manchester United, Ederson with Galatasaray, and Maignan with Chelsea, but none of these moves are concrete.
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On the surface, it seems puzzling. Donnarumma, just 26, is the Italian national team’s captain and a European champion. Ederson, 31, is a vital player under Pep Guardiola, boasting several Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy. Meanwhile, Maignan, who recently turned 30, has arguably been the best goalkeeper in Serie A for the past four years. Each of these players should theoretically be available this summer at a bargain price or even for free next year.
Yet, they are goalkeepers, and a different set of rules seems to apply to them.
This situation is partly structural. A top left-back can join a club that already has one, allowing coaches to devise plays for both. In contrast, a team cannot roster two starting goalkeepers simultaneously, even though Ederson’s exceptional footwork makes him quite adaptable.
All three players command high salaries, especially Donnarumma, who makes around $23 million a year, which limits the number of clubs capable of affording them—especially in a World Cup year when teams want to maintain their competitive edge.
Moreover, football hasn’t always valued keepers similarly to other players. For instance, on TransferMarkt’s market rankings, four players—Diogo Costa, David Raya, and Gregor Kobel—top the list at €40 million. Although the rankings aren’t definitive, they raise eyebrows when Donnarumma, one of the best, is ranked much lower than 146 others. Is it really credible that 146 players are deemed more valuable than a PSG keeper?
The late Mino Raiola, Donnarumma’s former agent, argued that a top goalkeeper’s contributions are comparable to that of superstars like Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappé, meriting similar salaries. He successfully secured a $14 million contract for Donnarumma when he was just 18 and later negotiated his impressive deal at PSG when he turned 22.
Nevertheless, there seem to be no indications of monumental contracts for them in the current transfer climate. Reports suggest that PSG’s latest extension offer is loaded with appearance bonuses instead of guaranteed salary increases, failing to match the substantial raises previously negotiated.
External factors also muddy the waters. Donnarumma commands a hefty salary but struggles with his footwork, a crucial aspect that coaches like Luis Enrique value. Ederson faced injury woes over the past two seasons, and there are concerns about Maignan following a financially challenging season for Milan without European competition.
However, the fundamental question remains: if they played different positions, would the treatment be the same? The disparity arises from the fact that these players touch the ball less than others in more involved roles.
Are teams and analysts in football unable to fully appreciate the value of goalkeepers? Perhaps the predominance of former players as coaches and scouts contributes to this, as errors by strikers and midfielders are more noticeable than goalkeeping blunders, which tend to linger in memory.
This situation seems to stem from a mix of all these factors. Ultimately, clubs appear to view goalkeepers as interchangeable players, with a narrower gap between exceptional and average performances compared to other positions.
Fan Take: This situation highlights the undervaluation of goalkeepers in soccer, potentially affecting player negotiations and team dynamics. If clubs continue to overlook the significance of their keepers, it could lead them to miss out on retaining key talents who can change a game’s outcome.
