cover photo belongs to Johannes EISELE / AFP
From their first season, MLS has been a league that’s tried to accommodate foreign players to elevate its level of play. While field players have seen success with integrating foreigners, there have been few productive foreign goalkeepers in MLS. Although MLS is focused on developing domestic talent, the potential payout certain goalkeepers possess make their pursuit from MLS teams worthwhile.
Following last year’s list of goalkeepers who would be a good fit for MLS, similar parameters have been applied for possible candidates: goalkeepers must be between 21-26 years old, listed under three million dollars on Transfermarkt, and have a sensible reason to transfer for both the player and club. For example, if a 22-year-old German goalkeeper is a backup in the Bundesliga, it’s not realistic to expect them to come to MLS as their willingness to make such a move is low and the opportunities for playing time are already present in their home country.
The six goalkeepers listed below are ready for the level of play in MLS and are likely able to jump to an even higher league within two or three years, earning MLS teams a nice incoming transfer fee. Each goalkeeper is listed with their current club, age, home country, their current listed price on Transfermarkt, and their potential selling fee an MLS team could make if the goalkeeper develops well.
1. Ivan Zlobin
Benfica (Portugal)
23, Russian
Current TM Listing: $1,320,000
Potential Transfer Selling Fee: $15,000,000
There are a couple of hurdles in bringing Zlobin into MLS. First, there aren’t many Russians playing outside of Russia, due to the lucrative money found in the Russian Premier League. A 2014 study found Russia to be the sixth-highest paying country, with the average player making $1.4 million. Secondly, Benfica is a known powerhouse when it comes to goalkeeper development. Simply having Benfica on your resume as a goalkeeper is a boost in itself.
However, the main reason this transfer could work is exactly because of how talent-loaded Benfica is. Zlobin only received eight starts over the past year, all coming through various cup matches. With the lack of playing time, there’s a slight chance Benfica let him walk for cheap. Additionally the Russian youth international could press for the number one spot with the national team if the next couple years go well, as Russia has not found a constant replacement since the retirement of World Cup hero Igor Akinfeev. Zlobin possesses an interesting mix of power and improvisation in his game, not to mention strong distributing skills. MLS could be a good platform for him to get more playing time, boost his reputation for a return to Europe, and set himself up as a national team contender.
2. Per Kristian Bratveit
Djurgardens (Sweden)
24, Norway
TM Listing: $358,000
Potential Transfer Selling Fee: $12,000,000
The 24-year-old Norwegian moved to Djurgardens a year and a half ago and mostly played backup during his new club’s championship run. He’s already been featured in Djurgardens’ 2020 campaign, splitting time with 31-year-old Tommi Vaiho, who received the bulk of last year’s minutes. Djurgardens likely know they’re sitting on a future Norwegian national team goalkeeper but they also may not have the available playing time the young prospect may desire. Bratveit instills a modern, passive approach by letting the game come to him, utilizing an interesting combination of a high line yet rarely playing aggressive. His wingspan is reminiscent of Brad Friedel, showcasing a seemingly impossible stretch to the upper 90s whenever the opportunity arises. MLS teams might struggle to convince Djurgardens to offload Bratveit but if they can, it wouldn’t take long to see why Norway is so keen on the young goalkeeper.
3. Ivan Brkic
Zrinjski Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
25, Croatia
TM Listing: $358,000
Potential Transfer Selling Fee: $8,000,000
Any time you’re surveying the bargain bin, there’s always a reason why things have fallen to the bottom corner. The 25-year-old Croatia received a knee injury in late November but not before he had knocked 10 shutouts in 16 starts for Zrinjski Mostar. Brkic likely doesn’t have many courting him at the moment due to the worrying injury.
Brkic has a number of parallels to Nick Rimando, both in his stature but also how both leave the viewer thinking “that shouldn’t have worked but somehow it did”. Brkic has an odd rhythm to his game, one that may not pass the eye test for many scouts. But if he’s healthy again, the former Croatia youth international could be another successful undersized goalkeeper in MLS’s history.
4. Miroslav Lobantsev
Qyzyljar (Kazakhstan)
25, Russia
TM Listing: $358,000
Potential Transfer Selling Fee: $7,000,000
If previously listed Ivan Brkic is the equivalent of Nick Rimando, then Miroslav Lobantsev is Kevin Hartman. Lobantsev leans on his size (6’3”) and burst of speed to shut down dangerous situations before they become shots on goal. Things can get a little sloppy with Lobantsev, who will put whichever body part that’s closest to the ball on the line at a moment’s notice. However, the atypical scrambling play style is fairly common in MLS, with Steve Clark, Tim Melia, and Bill Hamid finding success with it over their long careers in the league. Qyzyljar has little to no use for the backup goalkeeper who has played at every level of Russia’s youth international program (U16 to U21). Qyzyljar would likely be happy to offload the goalkeeper they received for free while Lobantsev would relish the chance at a bigger stage.
5. Babacar Niasse
Tondela (Portugal)
23, Senegal
TM Listing: $330,000
Potential Transfer Selling Fee: $7,000,000
Niasse joined Portuguese club CD Tondela at the start of the season but has only seen two starts since August and Tondela sit just three points above relegation. Tondela have opted to run with once capped Portuguese goalkeeper Cláudio Ramos for the entire season, who has actually done well for himself despite the club’s scoring woes. Tondela received Niasse on a free transfer from Belgium and Senegal have a decent goalkeeping core that makes Niasse’s chances with the national team slim to none. That said, Niasse has a similar thin, lanky frame to David de Gea, relying on his quick mobility to solve oncoming chances on goal. Niasse hasn’t had much success since reaching Europe but MLS could be a win-win-win for all parties involved.
6. Igor Leshchuk
Dinamo Moscow (Russia)
24, Russia
TM Listing: $523,000
Potential Transfer Selling Fee: $7,000,000
Dynamo faces FC Ufa in a 0-0 draw (September 2019). Leshchuk is the goalkeeper in yellow. Skip to 3:00 for a late-game save.
As previously mentioned, Russia pays extremely well and Leshchuk’s youth international experience with Russia could very well put his current salary above all MLS goalkeepers. Dynamo Moscow, who are currently sitting mid-table in the Russian Premier League, gave six league matches to Leshchuk last season although only winning once. It’s unlikely Dynamo Moscow will be willing to let Leshchuk walk for cheap, if at all, but the 24-year-old Russian’s calm demeanor (think Zack Steffen) would fit well with MLS teams, if given the consistent playing time that Dynamo hasn’t yet.