Scouting Potential Foreign Goalkeepers for MLS (2022)

Following the previous fall report on potential signings for MLS, Everybody Soccer returns with another scouting report on possible foreign goalkeepers for MLS teams. The US’s top league has finally started to explore more avenues when it comes to buying and selling players, both domestic and foreign.

Eligible goalkeepers were limited to (1) being at least 21 years old, (2) listed as having less than a $1,500,000 market value by Transfermarkt, and (3) ones that would have the highest possibility of being re-sold by an MLS team. Additionally, certain eligible goalkeepers were removed from inclusion, as moving to MLS didn’t make feasible sense for the stage they’re currently at in their career.


Toni Fuidias - Girona, 21

Bill says: Fuidias left Real Madrid this summer for another La Liga club, Girona, on a free transfer. Although Fuidias future is a little clouded when it comes to Girona’s plans for the young Spaniard, what’s not as blurry is Fuidias’ ability in between the posts. Although competitive minutes were sparse in the highly competitive environment, Fuidias is your prototypical young, Spanish goalkeeper: highly mobile with a keen focus on the smallest nuances but without any of the paralysis that typically comes with that attention to detail. TM has Fuidias’ contract with Girona running through summer 2025 but if they continue to keep him on the bench, they may be willing to let him go for a low fee.

Transfermarkt listing: $355,000

Mees Bakker - AZ, 21

Bill says: Bakker is currently on loan from AZ to second-division Dutch club De Graafschap but has yet to break in with either club. Transfermarkt lists Bakker’s contract to end next summer, making him a perfect candidate for MLS clubs to pounce on a potentially profitable goalkeeper. Bakker’s lack of minutes have kept the Dutch YNT goalkeeper off the radar for most clubs but that hasn’t stopped AZ from developing yet another front-footed goalkeeper. There aren’t many more aggressive goalkeepers in the world than Bakker, which provides a high boom-or-bust possibility.

Transfermarkt listing: $118,000

Anthony Racioppi - Young Boys, 23

Bill says: Racioppi rings in at just over the one million mark but the Swiss YNT alum has struggled for consistent playing time. Since leaving Dijon this winter, Racioppi returned to Swizterland’s premier league with Young Boys but has still been relegated to the bench. Utilizing a fluid style that’s often seen in Italian goalkeepers, Racioppi does well to react to a multitude of situations. From short-to-long range shooting situations to leaving his line, decision-making comes naturally for him, even if it’s not always a “textbook answer”. Racioppi needs minutes ASAP to stay relevant in Switzerland’s goalkeeping depth chart and MLS has long struggled to find foreign goalkeepers to handle atypical and scrappy challenges in goal.

Transfermarkt listing: $1,100,000

Luca Philipp - Hoffenheim, 22

Bill says: The German youth international is closing on a decade with how long he’s been with Hoffenheim. Philipp has patiently climbed every step inside the club, from the youth academy to the U17s to the U19s to the reserves, and has now found himself on the bench for the first team. It’s hard to see Hoffenheim offload him at this point, unless the steady play of 32-year-old starting goalkeeper Oliver Baumann delays the switch to the point where Philipp is frustrated from waiting. Philipp isn’t very flashy in goal but he is classically German in his methodical approach. Although you’re likely to see fewer big highlight reel saves, you’re also less likely to see poor goals with his steady approach. TM has his contract ending in the summer of 2023 and the right fit might pull the young goalkeeper to a new environment.

Transfermarkt listing: $330,000

Lazar Carevic - Vojvodina, 23

Bill says: Spain are quietly developing a slew of game generals and Carevic is no exception. After four years with Barcelona, Carevic moved east on a free transfer to the Vojvodina, a Serbian first-division club. Allowing only 13 goals in his first 15 league matches with the club, Carevic has also notched his first start with his national team of Montenegro back in March. Carevic brings a unique nimbleness to the southeastern European league, although it’s difficult to maintain in environments that lean on power and speed (see Kepa’s difficult start with Chelsea). Although the Serbian SuperLiga could trampoline the goalkeeper to a higher league, MLS will offer more exposure for Carevic.

Transfermarkt listing: $220,000

Best of the Rest

  • Cristian Rivero - Valencia, 24. Long time Valencia product with no clear route forward in the club. $220,000 listing.

  • Markus Schubert - Vitesse, 24. German returning from knee surgery at a crowded dutch club. $660,000 listing.

  • Luis López - Real Madrid, 21. One of the stalwart clubs in goalkeeper development with a goalkeeper struggling for playing time. $355,000 listing.

  • Ortwin De Wolf - Royal Antwerp, 26. Former Belgian YNT whose value recently “dropped” from depth chart issues and is wanting to reignite his career. $592,000 listing.

  • Manuel Roffo - Tigre, 22. Argentinian YNT looking to take his career forward from Argentina’s premier division. $740,000 listing

  • Théo De Percin - AJ Auxerre, 21. “Shoot from the hip” style with high range, if he can find the right blueprint for himself. $178,000 listing.

  • Andrea Zaccagno - Rimini, 25. Illustrious Italian YNT whose career has stalled in third division Italy. $118,000 listing.

  • Ellery Balcombe - Brentford, 23. Contract reportedly expires in May 2023 for the English U20 goalkeeper. $355,000 listing.

Three USL Goalkeepers Ready for MLS

With so many backup goalkeepers making their mark in MLS this season, it’s no secret that there’s a plethora of talent across the country ready to take on a little more responsibility. USL expansion has created more chances for goalkeepers to prove their merit, as proven by the fact that all three of the listed goalkeepers are with teams that were founded in the last five years. As we head into 2021, don’t be surprised if you see one of these goalkeepers with a new team and playing in the US’s top league.

maxresdefault.jpg

Sean Lewis (Tulsa FC, 28)

MLS equivalent: Sean Johnson
Highlights

Lewis’ rise to prominence has almost a fairytale story. After finishing his time in the collegiate ranks (starting at Western Michigan before transferring to Oakland for his senior year) he bounced around with some PDL, NPSL, and NASL teams for years before finally landing in the USL. Lewis was on track to become a lifelong backup before capturing the starting spot with Penn FC, where he springboarded to Tulsa FC.

Tulsa had relied heavily on Lewis to qualify for the 2020 playoffs as he’s only conceded an astonishing 16 goals in 15 games. Lewis’ game is similar to New York City FC’s Sean Johnson, who plays deep on his line but has the quickness and bravery to shut down dangerous situations in the box. It’s been a long road to this point but if there’s one word to describe Lewis’ trajectory to 2020, it’s determination.

lg20190626-346178.jpg

Logan Ketterer (El Paso Locomotive, 26)

MLS equivalent: Tyler Miller
Highlights

Despite remaining almost exclusively on the bench for his two years with the Columbus Crew, Ketterer rebounded well by signing with the newly minted El Paso Locomotive in hopes of showing what the Crew missed out on. There’s something to be said about a player who’s willing to bet on themselves and Ketterer has done just that. After a stellar collegiate career at Bradley University, Ketterer took the first-year club to the 2019 USL semifinal before a goal in extra time ended their run.

Now after back-to-back trips to the playoffs in both 2019 and 2020, Ketterer is due an upgrade in responsibility. Ketterer and Tyler Miller have some parallels, with both utilizing their mobility and lanky frame to cover a surprising amount of the goalmouth. Ketterer has been counted out by MLS thus far but another positive post-season run could put him back on MLS teams’ radars.

image.jpg

Kyle Morton (St. Louis FC, 26)

MLS equivalent: Will Hesmer
Highlights

For the old-timers out there, Morton’s play is reminiscent of Will Hesmer. It’s a combination of patience and strength to see tough situations all the way through, not conceding weak goals down the middle. Although Morton’s play isn’t flashy, he’s a difficult goalkeeper for strikers to figure out. Fundamentals and not overplaying his hand are pillars to Morton’s game, showing why turn of the century American goalkeepers were successful without having lightning-fast reflexes.

At 26, Morton has his best years ahead of him. Although St. Louis will join MLS in 2023, don’t be surprised if Morton leaves the USL a little early to show off just how high his ceiling actually is.

Six Foreign Goalkeepers For MLS (Summer 2020)

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.

The 50 Greatest MLS Goalkeepers of All-Time

The article was originally posted in 2017 and has since been updated. To see the previous rankings, you can view them here.

Since 1996, MLS fans has seen a number of successful goalkeepers come through their league. From World Cup starters to up-and-coming USMNT prospects, MLS has a rich history of displaying a high standard between the posts.

When considering the MLS’s best, this list focuses on a goalkeeper’s level of play, total appearances, and what part of their career the goalkeeper played in MLS. If a goalkeeper’s bulk of their games played is outside their prime, it could place them lower than others with less starts. Simply ranking goalkeepers by the most appearances isn’t a good barometer of the best, although it is one piece of the puzzle. To offset this, the level of play compared to their competition is taken into account, which values their ability versus the rest of the league’s goalkeepers.

Rimando - Jeff Swinger/USA TODAY Sports
Reis - Jason Gulledge
Howard - Getty Images

1. Nick Rimando (514 Games, 2000-2019)
2. Kevin Hartman (416 Games, 1997-2012)
3. Joe Cannon (342 Games, 1999-2013)
4. Jon Busch (309 Games, 2002-2015)
5. Tony Meola (250 Games, 1996-2006)
6. Matt Reis (293 Games, 1998-2013)
7. Stefan Frei (303 Games, 2009-present)
8. Luis Robles (253 Games, 2012-2020)
9. Scott Garlick (237 Games, 1997-2006)
10. Troy Perkins (217 Games, 2005-2007, 2010-2015)

One to Remember: Stefan Frei. After notching 93 starts for Toronto across all competitions, Frei’s career would take a significant detour as he only was featured once in league play from 2012-13. Relegated to a backup after suffering a broken fibula in training and eventually losing out to Joe Bendik for the starting position, Frei would be shipped to Seattle for a first round pick. Toronto would eventually flip the draft pick for FC Dallas midfielder, Jackson, who would become a mostly regular starter for two years. It wouldn’t be the last Toronto would see of Frei, however, as the former UC Berkeley product would face off against his old team in three MLS Cups (2016, 2017, 2019), winning the first and rubber match in spectacular fashion.

11. Zach Thornton (282 Games, 1996-2011)
12. Tim Howard (185 Games, 1998-2003, 2016-2019)
13. Brad Guzan (183 Games, 2005-2008, 2017-Present)
14. Sean Johnson (292 Games, 2010-Present)
15. Pat Onstad (223 Games, 2003-2011)
16. Tim Melia (175 Games, 2012-present)
17. Dan Kennedy (163 Games, 2008-2016)
18. Bill Hamid (248 Games, 2010-present)
19. Steve Clark (160 Games, 2014-present)
20. Will Hesmer (133 Games, 2006-2011)

One to Remember: Tim Melia. It’s hard not to be a fan of Melia’s underdog story. A D2 product who bounced around the league for most of his career, Melia signed with five teams in seven years, not including large stints as an MLS Pool Goalkeeper. Unable to find his footing, he signed with Sporting Kansas City in 2015 as a backup behind Chilean goalkeeper Luis Marin. After a disappointing start just eight games into the season, Marin would return back home for family issues, leaving a pathway for a goalkeeper that had been passed on by every other team in the league. Described “not really as a starter” by the Kansas City Star, Melia would earn 147 starts from 2015-19 as well as win the 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award.

21. Matt Pickens (156 Games, 2005-2013)
22. David Ousted (173 Games, 2013-2019)
23. Evan Bush (184 Games, 2012-present)
24. Tally Hall (153 Games, 2010-2015)
25. Bobby Shuttleworth (202 Games, 2010-present)
26. David Bingham (182 Games, 2011-present)
27. Donovan Ricketts (188 Games, 2009-2015)
28. Andre Blake (145 Games, 2014-Present)
29. Mark Dodd (92 Games, 1996-1999)
30. Jimmy Nielsen (128 Games, 2010-2013)

One to Remember: Matt Pickens. For most fans, it’s easy to forget Matt Pickens was a top goalkeeper in MLS at one point, receiving multiple call-ups for the national team in his prime years. The Missouri State alum has a winding road throughout his professional track, including signing with QPR in February of 2008 and trailing for half a dozen clubs that following summer after an untimely shoulder injury derailed his time in England. Pickens would ultimately rebound nicely, leading the Rapids in a successful MLS Cup run in 2010, topping off the victory with a clutch save in overtime. Pickens would earn 114 starts with the Rapids before losing his starting spot to Clint Irwin due to a broken arm. Once again the untimely injury derailed Pickens’ momentum. Left without a clear track to move forward, Pickens would follow Bob Bradley to Norway, trailing with Stabaek, before the Rapids would offload his large contract in the waiver draft (Irwin was making almost $200,000 less than Pickens at the time). Having several years left in the tank, the “Fear the Beard” campaign would follow the scrappy goalkeeper wherever he traveled. Pickens finished his career in the USL with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Nashville SC, earning 107 and 56 appearances with both teams respectively, before retiring after the 2019 season at age 37.

31. Joe Bendik (178 Games, 2012-present)
32. Tom Presthus (106 Games, 1997-2003)
33. Mike Ammann (125 Games, 1996-2001)
34. Kasey Keller (93 Games, 2009-2011)
35. Joe Willis (136 Games, 2011-present)
36. Matt Turner (69 Games, 2016-present)
37. Tyler Deric (90 Games, 2010-2019)
38. David Kramer (106 Games, 1996-2002)
39. Marcus Hahnemann (70 Games, 1997-1999, 2013)
40. Clint Irwin (136 Games, 2013-present)

One to Remember: Marcus Hahnemann. Hahnemann’s time in MLS was short but his winding route was certainly one that highlights what the goalkeeping landscape looked like in MLS’s early days. In the late 90s, America was bursting with talent and Hahnemann was a part of the country’s top goalkeepers. Through college, Hahnemann was a standout at Seattle Pacific University. Hahnemann racked up a 64-9-5 record in four years, earned All-American honors three times, and a national championship in 1993. After graduation, Hahnemann's success continued in the A-League with two championship runs in 1995 and 1996. Hahnemann signed with the Rapids in 1997 and immediately led them to the MLS Cup Final, losing 2-1 to DC United. Although the Rapids struggled defensively in 1998 (69 goals in 32 matches), Hahnemann was named the Rapids’ top defensive player for the season. The Rapids rebounded in 1999 and helped the team start the season 10-3 before an £80,000 transfer fee led Hahnemann to Fulham. Although his accomplishments in MLS are limited, Hahnemann finished his career with nine caps for the USMNT, a stint in the English Premier League, and a place in Reading’s history books as one of the club’s greatest goalkeepers.

41. Mark Dougherty (123 Games, 1996-2001)
42. Matt Jordan (117 games, 1998-2004)
43. Andy Gruenebaum (91 Games, 2006-2014)
44. Jorge Campos (52 Games, 1996-1998)
45. Zac MacMath (148 Games, 2011-present)
46. Zack Steffen (76 Games, 2016-2019)
47. Bo Oshoniyi (109 Games, 1996-2006)
48. Brian Rowe (105 Games, 2013-present)
49. Bouna Coundoul (99 Games, 2005-2011)
50. Brad Friedel (38 Games, 1996-1997)

One to Remember: I wrote 1500 words on why Zac MacMath’s career is important for learning lessons in goalkeeper development over on RSL Soap Box.