Every current Premier League club's best goalkeeper in history

English football has seen some legendary goalkeepers, with every club boasting at least one standout shot-stopper in its history. From record-breaking clean sheets to title-winning performances, this list highlights the best goalkeeper for each of the 20 current Premier League clubs, based on statistics, impact and silverware.

David Seaman is widely regarded as Arsenal’s greatest-ever goalkeeper. According to Transfermarkt, he made 562 appearances for the club between 1990 and 2003, winning three league titles and four FA Cups. During that time, Seaman kept 238 clean sheets, including a league-high 19 in the 1998-99 season. His incredible save against Sheffield United in the 2003 FA Cup semi-final remains one of the greatest in football history.

Since joining Aston Villa in 2020, Emi Martínez has become one of the club’s best-ever goalkeepers. He set a club-record 15 clean sheets in his first Premier League season (per Transfermarkt) and helped Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Martínez also played a crucial role in Villa’s European qualification in 2022-23 and is known for his commanding presence and penalty-saving ability. The Argentinian has also been named The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper twice (2022 and 2024) since being at the club.

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Polish international Artur Boruc was instrumental in Bournemouth’s rise to the Premier League. Playing 129 times for the Cherries, he kept 39 clean sheets, according to Transfermarkt, and was a key figure in their 2014-15 Championship-winning season. His experience and leadership helped Bournemouth establish themselves as a competitive top-flight team.

David Raya was crucial to Brentford’s historic promotion to the Premier League in 2021. Once there, in the 2022-23 season, he led the league in saves (154) while keeping 12 clean sheets, according to StateMuse. Known for his excellent shot-stopping and distribution, Raya helped Brentford secure a top-half finish in the Premier League before earning a big move to Arsenal.

Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan played a vital role in Brighton’s early years in the Premier League. Between 2017 and 2021, he made 123 appearances, keeping 27 clean sheets (per Transfermarkt). He was crucial in Brighton’s 2017-18 season, playing every league match and helping them secure top-flight survival with standout performances, including a key display in the 1-0 win over Manchester United in May 2018.

Petr Čech is Chelsea’s greatest-ever goalkeeper, holding the club record with 228 clean sheets in 494 games, according to Transfermarkt. He won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League, making a crucial penalty save in the 2012 final. His 24 clean sheets in 35 games in the 2004-05 season remains a Premier League record.

Nigel Martyn was Crystal Palace’s first £1 million signing and remains one of their greatest-ever players. Between 1989 and 1996, he made 349 appearances, according to the English National Football Archive, helping Palace finish third in the First Division (then the top flight) in 1990-91. He was also key in their 1990 FA Cup final run, producing several world-class performances.

Neville Southall is considered Everton’s best-ever goalkeeper, making 751 appearances for the Toffees, according to club sources. He won two league titles, two FA Cups and the 1985 Cup Winners’ Cup. Southall was named FWA Footballer of the Year in 1985, a rare honour for a goalkeeper, and his performances in the 1980s helped Everton dominate English football.

Before becoming a Manchester United legend, Edwin van der Sar was a key player for Fulham from 2001 to 2005. He made 154 appearances, bringing Champions League-winning experience to the club. His shot-stopping ability helped Fulham establish themselves in the Premier League, and his performances earned him a move to United, where he became one of the best goalkeepers in football history.

Paul Cooper was Ipswich’s first-choice goalkeeper during their most successful period, making 511 appearances between 1974 and 1987, according to Transfermarkt. He was instrumental in Ipswich’s 1981 UEFA Cup triumph and their FA Cup run in 1978. Cooper was renowned for his penalty-saving ability, stopping eight out of 10 penalties in the 1979-80 season, a record at the time, according to FourFourTwo.

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Kasper Schmeichel is a Leicester City legend, playing 479 matches between 2011 and 2022. He was a key figure in Leicester’s historic 2015-16 Premier League title win, keeping 15 clean sheets, according to Transfermarkt. Schmeichel also played a vital role in their 2021 FA Cup victory, making crucial saves in the final against Chelsea. His leadership and consistency cemented his place in club history.

Ray Clemence was Liverpool’s number one from 1967 to 1981, playing 658 matches and keeping 320 clean sheets, per Transfermarkt. He was a crucial part of the team that won five league titles and three European Cups. In the 1978-79 season, he conceded just 16 goals in 42 league games, a record-low in English football. His reflexes and composure made him one of England’s greatest goalkeepers.

Ederson joined Manchester City in 2017 and quickly established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. His distribution and shot-stopping ability helped City win multiple league titles, including the 2022-23 treble. He won the Golden Glove in 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 and his 20 clean sheets in the 2018-19 season were key to City’s 98-point title win.

Peter Schmeichel is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in football history. He played 398 games for Manchester United from 1991 to 1999, keeping 180 clean sheets (per Transfermarkt). Schmeichel captained United in their 1999 Champions League final win, completing their famous treble, and won five Premier League titles with the club.

Shay Given played 463 matches for Newcastle between 1997 and 2009, according to Transfermarkt, and kept 132 clean sheets on Tyneside. The Irishman was the club’s longest-serving Premier League goalkeeper and was twice named Newcastle’s Player of the Year (2004–05 and 2005–06). Given was a key figure in Newcastle’s Champions League campaigns and is remembered for his reflexes, longevity and shot-stopping ability.

Peter Shilton played 260 games for Nottingham Forest between 1977 and 1982, keeping 98 clean sheets, according to Transfermarkt. He was a crucial part of Brian Clough’s side that won back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980. Shilton’s composure and command of the penalty area made him one of England’s finest goalkeepers, and he remains Forest’s greatest shot-stopper.

Antti Niemi played for Southampton from 2002 to 2006, making 123 appearances, according to Transfermarkt. He helped the Saints reach the 2003 FA Cup final and was one of the league’s most consistent goalkeepers in the early 2000s. Niemi was known for his agility and reflexes, earning the club’s Player of the Year award in 2004.

Despite going on to play for North London rivals Arsenal, Pat Jennings is one of Tottenham’s greatest-ever players, making 564 appearances from 1964 to 1977, according to Transfermarkt. With Spurs, he won the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup and was named FWA Footballer of the Year in 1973, a rare achievement for a goalkeeper. Jennings was known for his incredible shot-stopping and ability to catch powerful shots with one hand.

Phil Parkes played over 400 games for West Ham between 1979 and 1990. According to the WHUFC website, he was the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when West Ham signed him from QPR for £565,000. Parkes was instrumental in the club’s 1980 FA Cup win, making crucial saves in the final against Arsenal. His consistency and presence made him one of West Ham’s all-time greats.

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Bert Williams played 420 games for Wolverhampton Wanderers from 1945 to 1959, winning the First Division title in 1954, according to the Wolves' official website. He was England’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 1950 World Cup and earned 24 caps. Williams kept 10 clean sheets in the 1953-54 title-winning season (per English Football League Tables) and remains one of Wolves’ most celebrated players.