So who are the best Premier League goalkeepers ever?
It's a tough question. In an ever-changing 30+ years of Premier League action, goalkeepers remain one of the most undervalued and important members of each team.
Once solely judged on their ability to prevent goals, each man between the sticks is now expected to play a crucial part in the attacking third, contributing to the build up of moves with managers now holding on-the-ball ability in equal regard to shot stopping.
Here at FourFourTwo, we've analysed the best goalkeepers in the history of the Premier League, along with the best defenders, the best midfielders, the best wingers and the best strikers. We carefully considered a range of greats according to their peak, their longevity, their impact and their influence.
It certainly wasn't an easy decision. This is one position in which there is no short supply of brilliance – and there never has been in the top flight of English football.
From technical wizards to heroic shot-stoppers, here's the greatest 20 goalkeepers in Premier League history.
VIDEO EA FC 25 Upgrades: slip passes, dribbling, pass accuracy, professional fouls
The 20 best Premier League goalkeepers ever: 20. Tim Howard (Manchester United, Everton)
The understated Everton hero led the way for a weirdly specific era of bald American goalkeepers in the 2000s and early 2010s alongside Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan, but that's besides the point.
Howard featured regularly for Manchester United amid a hectic period of goalkeeping at Old Trafford before Edwin van der Saar's arrival, later joining Everton where he would cement himself as one of the most consistent stoppers in the league.
Howard made almost 400 league appearances across the two clubs, helping the Toffees to regularly punch above their weight in the fight for European football under manager David Moyes.
19. Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, Fulham, Chelsea, Leicester)
The towering Australian spent almost 20 years in England's top flight across four different clubs, making north of 500 Premier League appearances.
Schwarzer helped Middlesbrough to an unlikely UEFA Cup final in 2006, even braving a fractured cheekbone to play with a protective mask for the latter part of the season.
He then repeated the feat in 2010 with Fulham, however once again came up short in a European final. His career wound down with stints at Chelsea and Leicester before retiring with 152 clean sheets to his name.
18. Emiliano Martinez (Arsenal, Aston Villa)
Not many Premier League goalkeepers can boast a World Cup winners medal, even fewer can say they were arguably the highest-performing player on a World Cup-winning side.
Martinez's career didn't really take off until his 2020 move to Aston Villa, aged 27, but since then his abilities have been undeniable.
Martinez has provided a solid foundation for Aston Villa to impose themself once more in the top flight after an underwhelming decade for the west midlands outfit, even helping them to an unlikely top four finish in the 2023/24 season.
17. Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea)
Arguably one of the greatest goalkeepers to ever live, Thibaut Courtois' remarkable career has yielded six league titles across England and Spain, as well as two Champions League titles in the Spanish capital.
The Belgian spent his early years at Chelsea, making 126 appearances across a seven-year spell at the Bridge. He won a Premier League title with none other than Petr Cech as his understudy before graduating as the side's number one in their 2017 success.
16. Jordan Pickford (Sunderland, Everton)
Jordan Pickford's career is widely regarded as one dominated by international performances, having helped England to two major finals in four years as number one.
However, has commitment to Everton in a torrid period for the club as a whole has been commendable, with his own individual brilliance saving the Toffees from dropping into the Championship on a number of occasions over the past few years.
15. Nigel Martyn (Crystal Palace, Leeds, Everton)
Arguably the greatest goalkeeper to never win a major trophy in England, Nigel Martyn's consistency and ability for the spectacular means his inclusion in a no-brainer.
Martyn's 137 clean sheets in just 372 appearances place him sixth in the Premier League all-time clean sheet list, a worthy recognition for a career which often slips under the radar.
14. Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City, Manchester City)
It would be impossible not to include a member of Leicester City's title-winning squad, particularly one who played every minute of the famous campaign.
Perhaps the biggest testament to Schmeichel's career is that he was able to step firmly out of the shadow of his father, Peter, making almost 300 appearances in England's top flight across an eight-year stay in the East Midlands.
13. Pepe Reina (Liverpool)
Liverpool hero Pepe Reina helped usher in a new era of goalkeepers in the Premier League as ability with the ball at your feet became more important. A step away from the physically imperious stoppers before him, Reina's agility and reflexes made up for a perceived lack of height (despite standing at 6ft 2!!!).
Despite never winning the league, the Spaniard sits seventh in the all-time clean sheet list. He came agonisingly close to lifting the title in 2009.
12. Brad Friedel (Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur)
Brad Friedel's consistency and longevity across stints at some of England's biggest sides grants the American a place in this list. Despite struggling early in his Liverpool career, Friedel quickly became a favourite at every club he went to after establishing himself as one of the league's top goalkeepers at Blackburn Rovers.
450 appearances and 132 clean sheets later, Friedel is undoubtedly a Premier League icon and help market the league to a fairly new American audience. He's also one of six keepers to score in the division and set a record for consecutive appearances in the competition.
11. Shay Given (Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Stoke City)
Shay Given cemented himself as Newcastle's greatest goalkeeper of the Premier League era during his 12-year stay on Tyneside.
The Irishman made 450 Premier League appearances across five different sides before bringing an end to a 23-year long career in the top flight back in 2017.
10 - Jens Lehmann (Arsenal)
Perhaps the only downside to Jens Lehmann's time at Arsenal is that it didn't last longer. Though the cantankerous custodian did re-sign for Arsenal in 2011 to make one last appearance for the club.
The towering German helped the Gunners to their famous 'Invincible' season, as well as the 2006 Champions League final during his five years at the club.
9. Joe Hart (Manchester City, Birmingham City, West Ham United, Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur)
Joe Hart was regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world during his prime at Manchester City, acting as a cornerstone of their initial success in the 2010s.
Hart won five major honours at the Etihad Stadium before Pep Guardiola's arrival signalled the end of his stint in Manchester.
8. Ederson (Manchester City)
The definition of a modern goalkeeper, Ederson is perhaps the most technically gifted stopper the Premier League has ever seen.
The Brazilian has managed six Premier League titles, a Champions League and, of course, a number of assists across his seven-year stint in Manchester so far, and has already surpassed the 100 clean sheet mark.
7. Alisson (Liverpool)
It seems almost impossible to split the two Brazilians, as international coaches have often found... But Alisson's transformative impact on Liverpool as a club has earned him the No.7 spot.
Stepping in to replace Loris Karius, Alisson's impact at Anfield was undeniable, playing a key role in their 2020 league triumph as well as Champions League success in 2019.
6. David De Gea (Manchester United)
One of the only bright sparks in a dismal decade for the Red Devils, David De Gea was the greatest goalkeeper in the world during his prime, single-handedly dragging the Red Devils out of the abyss with his heroic saving ability.
The Spaniard was named in the Premier League team of the season six times in just seven seasons, as well as two golden gloves despite the deficiencies of the team in front of him.
5. David James (Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Man City, Portsmouth)
Another goalkeeper who fell victim to a lack of silverware, David James was one of the most dependable goalkeepers in Premier League history across his 18-year spell in the top flight.
James once held the record for the most clean sheets in Premier League history before being dethroned by Petr Cech, and still sits 2nd in the list.
James' crowning moment came in 2008 during Portsmouth's run the FA Cup glory, playing a key role in the side that beat Cardiff City at Wembley.
4. Edwin van der Sar (Fulham, Manchester United)
A true Premier League great, the Dutchman made the leap to English football after fruitful spells at European giants Ajax and Juventus.
Van der Sar played a key role in Manchester United's dominance of English football between 2007 and 2013, lifting four Premier League titles and the Champions League under Sir Alex Ferguson.
3. David Seaman (Arsenal, Manchester City)
Arguably England's greatest ever goalkeeper, David Seaman was an ever-present in Arsenal's success in the opening decade of the newly-formed Premier League.
The ponytail-donning stopper lifted two Premier League titles for the Gunners during his 300+ appearances in the top flight before spending the final season of his career at Manchester City.
2. Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United, Aston Villa, Manchester City)
Peter Schmeichel was perhaps the most intimidating goalkeeper in Premier League history, pairing a towering presence with an almost unbeatable ability between the posts.
Schmeichel was a key part of the treble-winning side of 1999, lifting the Premier League on five occasions during his time at Old Trafford.
1. Petr Cech (Chelsea, Arsenal)
Petr Cech takes the crown of the Premier League's greatest goalkeeper, fending off some unbelievable competition in the process.
The Czech international's longevity and trophy haul, accompanied by the record of the most clean sheets in history land him top spot, lifting Premier League titles consistently over a ten-year period at Stamford Bridge.
A staple of the modern Chelsea we know today, Cech's legacy on the London outfit, and the league as a whole, will be remembered for generations to come.
More Premier Leaguer stories
Manchester City staff ‘unsure’ Pep Guardiola will continue as manager
Premier League: Who is the referee and VAR for Manchester United vs Fulham?
Cristiano Ronaldo offered himself to Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola brutally rejected him: report
