cover photo of Ionut Radu belongs to Gareth Copley/Getty Images
1. Unai Simón, Spain (Athletic Bilbao) - 22
2. Ionut Radu, Romania (Parma / Italy) - 22 ^
3. Catalin Cabuz, Romania (FC Viitorul) - 23
4. Alex Meret, Italy (Napoli) - 22
5. Arnaud Bodart, Belgium (Standard Liège) - 21
6. Stefano Gori, Italy (AC Pisa) - 23
^ - on loan from Inter Milan
One to Watch: Ionut Radu. Since 1970, Inter have only had nine different starting goalkeepers, usually sporting a national team starter more times than not. It’s an amazing run that is a product of identifying talent at a young age, which they seem to have done yet again with Radu. Although Radu has already been on four loans in his professional career, it’s no real surprise that his agent is calling him the “future of Inter”. Radu was tied to Arsenal last summer and West Ham this past winter window but realistically Radu has a massive price tag if a club is serious about poaching the young Romanian. Current Inter starter, Samir Handanovic, turns 36 this summer so don’t be surprised if Radu doesn’t spend next season on loan and starts working up the ladder with Inter.
7. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy (AC Milan) - 21
8. Noam Baumann, Switzerland (FC Lugano) - 23
9. Iñaki Peña, Spain (Barcelona) - 20
10. Álvaro Fernández, Spain (SD Huesca) - 21
11. Dominik Kotarski, Croatia (Ajax / Netherlands) - 20
12. Per Kristian Bratveit, Norway (Djurgardens / Sweden) - 24
One to Watch: Dominik Kotarski. It may not come as a surprise that Ajax is loaded with young talent, even at the goalkeeping position. Kotarski has been featured as the starter for Ajax’s reserve side, playing in the second division in the Netherlands. The young Croatian has a nice blend of balance, patience, and looking comfortable off his line, which fits in nicely with Ajax’s front-footed style of play. It’s hard to predict André Onana’s time left with Ajax, as the current starter has already been linked to Barcelona and Chelsea, but if Kotarski is given the starting spot, don’t expect a shift in the responsibilities with the position.
13. Maarten Paes, Netherlands (FC Utrecht) - 21
14. Luca Zidane, France (Racing Santander / Spain) - 21 ^
15. Andriy Lunin, Ukraine (Real Oviedo / Spain) - 21 ^
16. André Onana, Cameroon (Ajax / Netherlands) - 23
17. Nordin Jackers, Belgium (Waasland-Beveren) - 22 *
18. Rok Vodisek, Slovenia (Genoa / Italy) - 21
^ - on loan from Real Madrid
* - on loan from Genk
One to Watch: Luca Zidane. It’s hard to overstate Real Madrid’s grip on the world’s elite goalkeeping. After offloading Keylor Navas to make room for Thibaut Courtois and French international Alphonse Areola, their youth core is equally as impressive with Lunin and Zidane waiting in the wings. Although Zidane can look a little sloppy with form, he possesses an impeccable rhythm to the game, almost as if he’s been watching the sport since day one. He still has some time to develop into a potential starter for Real Madrid but whether it’s there or another club, Zidane will be on a much bigger stage, sooner or later.
19. Jasper Schendelaar, Netherlands (AZ Alkmaar) - 19
20. Javier Belman, Spain (Real Madrid) - 21
21. Lucas Dias, France (Nîmes Olympique) - 20
22. Manuel Roffo, Argentina (Boca Juniors) - 19
23. Justin Bijlow, Netherlands (Feyenoord) - 22
24. Aaron Ramsdale, England (Bournemouth) - 21
One to Watch: Aaron Ramsdale. It’s not an easy time to be at Bournemouth, as the English youth international is experiencing first hand. Facing down relegating, Ramsdale has conceded 42 goals in 27 matches, although it’s not for a lack of talent. Ramsdale isn’t as explosive as some of his peers but he never looks out of depth, rarely creating a mistake from inexperience. A relegation battle is taxing for any player, young or old, and depending on how events play out, it could very well impact Ramsdale’s future, both with career opportunities and confidence in net.