Top Goalkeepers Who Scored in the Premier League

Traditionally, good goal-keeping will suffice the cliché of been among the elite, while the like of Nock Pope and Sam Johnstone are creatively doing their quota to ensure their team remain among the elite in English football but in reality, football is fast evolving with goalkeepers equally evolving in their role

In fact, the goalkeeper are expected to do more than shot-stopping in modern game while some are very vibrant with their reflex, while commanding the defense with topnotch authority, the goalkeepers see expected to contribute to their team offensive prowess in symptoms and glorified manner in order to ensure their team becomes victorious going out of match.

More so, Premier League have seen many keeper getting involved in their team play but only few have been able to aid their team with goal scoring feat.

Moreover, Allison Becker in recent time came out of his shell to help Liverpool scoop their Champions League birth while scoring a goal that would make won a match and eventually aid The Red to a top three position after sports betting websites have offered their odds in favour of Leicester City and Chelsea qualifies ahead of the Merseyside team.

His fellow countryman in Manchester City and Selecao rival for the number one spot had previously been louder for his ability to pinpoint a pass for his player in Premier League  while assisting their players to net an opponent in an emphatic attitude have given rise to the importance of a goalkeeper in their team’s build-up in the Premier League.

Despite the fact that goalkeepers are keeping pace with the attacker to put their name in Premier League goal scoring record book, it was not until tenth season after the inaugural season of the English top flight Premier League that the custodian began to have their way against their counterparts.

Irrespective of how well their names is in Premier League, below are the top class goal keepers that have registered their name as a Premier League goal scorer beyond their excellence shot stopping skill that have rank them among the elite that Premier League has to offer.

Tim Howard

The American shots stoppers was one of the best goalie in the Premier League during his illustrious twelve years campaign ranging from Manchester United and Everton. In fact, the genesis of his Premier League career started off with an impressive capacity for United until he began to be clumsy in his realign which led to competition with Carrol until the two custodians lost their place to Van Der Sar.

Moreover, the American international will be remember for his brilliant goal against Bolton Wonderers. But what makes the goal enthralling is the factor that associated with the goal, as the windy conditions on Merseyside played a huge part in Tim Howard only Premier League goal, while the ball moved strongly against Adam Bodgan

Though, Everton eventually lost the game, thanks to Stephen Ngog and Gary Cahill’s goal that earn Bolton the much needed three point. But the Howard’s goal will be remember by many Toffees and  Premier League fans for years to come

Allison Becker

Already claiming one of the best goal custodian in Premier League in his less than five years at the Anfield. With the Brazilian shot stopper in goal, Liverpool have had the luxury of winning the Premier League which have evaded the Merseyside’s team for decades

In fact, Allison is not just one of the Premier League shot stopper, he is among the elite goalkeeper all over the world and his presence have riven to be the standard of goalkeeping in recent times.

Moreover, in what will be lived in the memory of many Kops and the Premier League fans is the goal that secures the champions berth for The Reds in their bid to turn their season around after their shambolic outing since Van Dijk against Everton

In a match that looks frantic and erratic for Liverpool to exert their dominance to claim a victory against the lowly West Bromwich Albion. The Brazil international came up with a late header by connecting to a brilliant corner with inch-perfect header directions to the right angle without the reach of his counterpart

The goal beyond the need of Liverpool’s victory came with an outstanding effort which is well placed like an outfield player trained to score such a goal. Allison Becker goal will echo in the heart of many Premier League fans for years to come

Peter Schmeichel

Beyond imitation of greatness stand one of the greatest Premier League custodian of all time. The big Dane was at the heart of Manchester United’s dominance while winning a series of League titles, FA Cup, league cup and Champions League.

However, the Denmark international will be remembered for his goal-scoring feat as the first goalkeeper in the rich history of the Premier League to find the back of the opposing team net. While it was nearly a decade of Premier League existence, Schmeichel do the unthinkable beyond everyone’s imagination.

Though Pete was replaced with an excellent goalkeeper, Barthez who was also a brilliant goalkeeper like Schmeichel, but the Dane was well placed as me of the great with his saves and shows-stopping capabilities.

More so, Schmeichel on October 2001, before the league swing in full gear, before the big boys began to settle in their prime, the Danish custodian stole the headline as the first goalkeeper to find the back of the next in Premier League after he smashed home a superb volley for Aston Villa as the Villa Park’s team home a memorable 3-2 victory of Everton on a thrilling encounter

Though he is known to score goals while recording nine goals throughout his career, his strike against Everton will be remembered by many as it was the only goal scored by the Dane in Premier League throughout his stay in the league.

Top 100 American Goalkeepers

Cover photo belongs to Tom Flathers/Getty Images. To see how the top 100 rankings have evolved since July 2013, click here.

1. Zack Steffen, 26 - Manchester City
2. Ethan Horvath, 26 - Nottingham Forest (England.2)
3. Matt Turner, 27 - New England Revolution
4. Brad Stuver, 30 - Austin FC
5. Sean Johnson, 32 - New York City FC
6. Josh Cohen, 29 - Maccabi Haifa (Israel.1)
7. Brad Guzan, 37 - Atlanta United
8. Tyler Miller, 28 - Minnesota United FC
9. Jimmy Maurer, 33 - FC Dallas
10. Tim Melia, 35 - Sporting Kansas City

One to watch: Ethan Horvath. Horvath joined Nottingham Forest on a free transfer this summer after seeing barely any minutes after Simon Miglonet joined. In mid-August, Horvath did impressively well in a 4-0 EFL Cup loss to Wolves, making a number of top saves to keep the scoreline from nearing double digits (highlights). Unfortunately, all progress feels undone when he gifted a goal away in a 2-0 league match against Middlesbrough, losing possession on a simple build-out in his own box. Horvath’s career has been stop-and-go for much of the past four years so in some sense this is nothing new. On the other hand, at 26 years old, there really isn’t much time left to “develop”. While the competition is great, ultimately Horvath needs traction to reach his ceiling. Horvath doesn’t need every minute from a club but he will need more than two games a year.

11. Steve Clark, 35 - Portland Timbers
12. Bill Hamid, 30 - DC United
13. William Yarbrough, 32 - Colorado Rapids
14. Stefan Cleveland, 27 - Seattle Sounders
15. Sean Lewis, 29 - FC Tulsa
16. Andrew Tarbell, 28 - Austin FC
17. Logan Ketterer, 27 - El Paso Locomotive
18. Joe Willis, 33 - Nashville SC
19. Kyle Morton, 27 - Houston Dynamo
20. Stefan Frei, 35 - Seattle Sounders

One to watch: Stefan Cleveland. As the Stefan Frei-era in Seattle enters its final hours, Cleveland has stepped up as an unlikely replacement. Similar to how Seattle obtained Frei from Toronto, the Sounders picked up Cleveland for essentially pennies (trading their first-round draft pick for Chicago’s second round). As of October 6th, Cleveland has 15 starts this season with an eight-game unbeaten streak to kick off his campaign. Cleveland’s style can be a bit chaotic but his quick feet and “nose for the ball” have produced a number of head-scratching saves for opposing strikers. It’s hard to say how far Cleveland can take his approach in the league but so far he’s made a strong case for starting for the Sounders in 2022.

21. Michael Nelson, 26 - Houston Dynamo
22. Pablo Sisniega, 26 - Los Angeles FC
23. David Bingham, 32 - Los Angeles Galaxy
24. Zac MacMath, 30 - Real Salt Lake
25. Jeff Attinella, 33 - Portland Timbers
26. Mike Lansing, 27 - Aalesunds FK (Norway.2)
27. John McCarthy, 29 - Inter Miami
28. Jon Kempin, 28 - DC United
29. Bobby Shuttleworth, 34 - Chicago Fire
30. Kendall McIntosh, 27 - Sporting Kansas City

Ones to watch: Michael Nelson. Similar to Austin FC’s Brad Stuver, Nelson entered 2021 without finishing a 90-minute league match since 2019. With 25-year-old Croatian goalkeeper Marko Maric on the depth chart for the Orange, Nelson’s road to seeing minutes has been tricky. In 2019 USL action, Nelson displayed an effortless combination of mobility and explosiveness and fortunately that didn’t evaporate when his opportunity arrived in 2021. Nelson notched eight straight starts this fall and helped end Houston’s 16 game winless streak. Nelson seems to have the tools to be more than an MLS backup but if he can’t get the minutes to lead him there then he’ll end up as yet another American caught in the MLS goalkeeper logjam of "what could have been”.

31. Evan Louro, 25 - Tampa Bay Rowdies
32. Alex Bono, 27 - Toronto FC
33. Cody Mizell, 30 - New York City FC
34. Bobby Edwards, 26 - Indy Eleven
35. Joe Bendik, 32 - Philadelphia Union
36. Zac Lubin, 32 - Phoenix Rising
37. Alec Kann, 31 - Atlanta United
38. Quentin Westberg, 35 - Toronto FC
39. Ryan Meara, 30 - New York Red Bulls
40. Spencer Richey, 29 - Seattle Sounders

One to Watch: Bobby Edwards. Edwards’ exit from Cincinnati wasn’t a pretty one. While Edwards only conceded three goals in two games, it was the dropped cross against DC United that many criticized and ended up being the last time Edwards started for Cincy. [Read Edwards’ own words on how he overcame the setback here.] Edwards moved west to Indy Eleven and replaced former Indy goalkeeper Evan Newton as the club’s starter. At 25, Edwards still has plenty of time ahead of him but 2021 needs to be a year where Edwards shows doubters that not only has he put the error behind him, but that he deserves another shot as an MLS goalkeeper. Being 6’7” has its obvious advantages but correctly executing on nuanced and difficult situations is its own challenge for any goalkeeper.

41. Evan Bush, 35 - Columbus Crew
42. Danny Vitiello, 25 - Pittsburgh Riverhounds
43. Eric Dick, 27 - Columbus Crew
44. Bryan Meredith, 32 - Nashville SC
45. Alexandros Tabakis, 28 - New Mexico United
46. Clint Irwin, 32 - Colorado Rapids
47. Kyle Zobeck, 31 - FC Dallas
48. Earl Edwards, 29 - New England Revolution
49. Adam Grinwis, 29 - Orlando City SC
50. Tomas Gomez, 28 - Sacramento Republic

One to Watch: Eric Dick. Butler alum Eric Dick received strong backing straight out of college, seeing 22 starts with SKC’s USL side from 2018-19. However, minutes have been difficult to come by since then, only earning six starts in the past two seasons. Dick has an odd kit to work with: game-changing saves look easy for him but movement in the box can look clunky at times. Depending on who you ask, Dick definitively does or doesn’t pass the eye test for most viewers but it’s hard to get a fair assessment on a goalkeeper whose playing time has been so erratic over the past four years. If Dick can get more consistency and not just bounce from place to place, we should get a better idea of his ceiling. However, if Dick can’t make a strong case for himself to deserve the added resources, reaching his ceiling won’t be a possibility at all.

51. JT Marcinkowski, 24 - San Jose Earthquakes
52. Joe Kuzminsky, 27 - Charleston Battery
53. Brandon Austin, 22 - Tottenham U23s (England.1)
54. Danny Rogers, 27 - Oldham Athletic (England.3)
55. Evan Newton, 33 - Vancouver Whitecaps
56. Jonathan Klinsmann, 24 - Los Angeles Galaxy
57. Matt Lampson, 32 - Hartford Athletic
58. Andrew Putna, 27 - Real Salt Lake
59. Brandon Miller, 31 - Charlotte Independence
60. Matt Bersano, 29 - San Jose Earthquakes

One to Watch: Brandon Austin. Although there are questions about his eligibility to represent the US, it’s safe to say that Austin’s loan to Orlando was a positive one. The lanky youngster was an immediate boost for Orlando City’s goalkeeping core with his polished foundation and ability to pull a save out of the corner of the goal through precise timing and fluid reactions. Austin’s ceiling is hard to pinpoint at this time with sparse playing time in the last 24 months but loans like this might help him become an intriguing talent for the English club down the line.

61. Tim Murray, 34 - FC Honka (Finland.1)
62. Cody Cropper, 28 - MLS Pool
63. Matt Van Oekel, 35 - Birmingham Legion
64. Justin vom Steeg, 24 - Los Angeles Galaxy
65. Chris Seitz, 34 - DC United
66. Jeff Gal, 28 - Degerfors (Sweden.1)
67. Matt Cardone, 28 - San Antonio FC
68. Ben Lundgaard, 26 - Atlanta United
69. Richard Sanchez, 27 - North Texas SC
70. Jeff Caldwell, 25 - Hartford Athletic

One to Watch: Jeff Gal. Gal has quietly been chipping away at a career in Sweden. Starting in the lower leagues in Sweden, Gal has climbed to the first division with Degerfors after joining the club two summers ago. 2021 has seen him once again battle for the starting position with Swedish goalkeeper Ismael Diawara and English youth international Alfie Whiteman. Gal tends to shoot from the hip and relies heavily on instinct, which can provide some game-saving moments or some soft goals, depending on the day. If Gal can display consistency his club can build confidence on, look for him to nail down the number one position with either Degerfors or another club in the Allsvenskan moving forward.

71. Joe Rice, 25 - New England Revolution II
72. Adrian Zendejas, 26 - Minnesota United FC
73. Tyler Deric, 33 - Rio Grande Valley FC
74. Kenneth Kronholm, 36 - Chicago Fire
75. Andre Rawls, 31 - Colorado Rapids
76. Trevor Spangenberg, 30 - Birmingham Legion
77. CJ Cochran, 30 - Oklahoma City Energy FC
78. Carlos dos Santos, 21 - Benfica B (Portugal.1)
79. Micah Bledsoe, 27 - Michigan Stars
80. Benjamin Machini, 25 - Sollentuna FK (Sweden.3)

One to Watch: Benjamin Machini. It’s been some time since Machini was first featured on Everybody Soccer back in February of 2016 but the young Swedish-American has been carving out a respectful season in Sweden’s third division. Through September, Machini started 16 matches to help Sollentuna into the top half of the table. Watching Machini from over the years, it’s easy to see how his time in Spain has paid off. He’s confident on the ball, moves effortlessly in the box, and has no issue stepping forward to stop an attack. If Machini can clean up some of the post-to-post timing and find his set position in rhythm within tricky attacks, he could continue climbing the ladder in Sweden.

81. Jake McGuire, 27 - North Carolina FC
82. Kyle Ihn, 26 - Oklahoma City Energy FC
83. Luis Barraza, 24 - New York City FC
84. Thomas Olsen, 26 - FF Jaro (Finland.2)
85. Austin Rogers, 26 - San Diego 1904
86. Dylan Castanheira, 26 - Inter Miami
87. Matt Freese, 23 - Philadelphia Union
88. Rashid Nuhu, 25 - Union Omaha
89. Keegan Meyer, 24 - Loudoun United
90. Akira Fitzgerald, 34 - Richmond Kickers

One to Watch: Matt Freese. As Chicago and Real Salt Lake find ways to distribute minutes to their teenage goalkeepers, Freese has struggled to find ways to get on the field. Despite being a backup for the US U23s, Freese saw 15 starts in 2019, 8 in 2020, and just 237 minutes this year. Philadelphia putting their USL team on hiatus hasn’t helped his cause - nor has him receiving a red card in his first match with the Union this year - but either way, fans are still waiting to see more of the Harvard alum who sits behind Jamaican international Andre Blake.

91. Carlos Saldaña, 25 - Sacramento Republic
92. Benny Diaz, 22 - Club Tijuana (Mexico.1)
93. Ben Beaury, 25 - El Paso Locomotive
94. Ford Parker, 25 - Birmingham Legion
95. Eric Lopez, 22 - Los Angeles Galaxy
96. Elliot Panicco, 24 - Nashville SC
97. Parker Siegfried, 24 - Louisville City FC
98. Andrew Thomas, 23 - Seattle Sounders
99. Kevin Silva, 23 - Toronto FC
100. Jahmali Waite, 22 - University of Connecticut

One to Watch: Carlos Saldaña. Saldaña joined Sacramento midseason after Sacramento has worked to replace injured starter Tomas Gomez. Just within 30 minutes of Saldaña’s debut, the 25-year-old Mexican-American goalkeeper made a phenomenal stretch on a skipping header towards the side-netting to keep a 1-0 scoreline in Sacramento’s favor. Saldaña is in desperate need of minutes and Sacramento has quickly inserted him, giving signs that they’re willing to continue to develop him. Sacramento has done well with scouting goalkeeping talent in the past and this is yet another win for the ambitious USL side.

NCAA Men's Goalkeeper Rankings (Spring 2021)

cover photo from the University of Pittsburgh

Seniors

1. Andreu Cases Mundet (Santa Clara, Spain)
2. Nico Campuzano (Pittsburgh)
3. Ruben Stuiver (San Francisco, Netherlands)
4. Andrew Pannenberg (Wake Forest) #
5. Colin Shutler (Virginia) #
6. Will Palmquist (Denver)
7. Tor Saunders (Coastal Carolina) #
8. Will Pulisic (Duke) #
9. Noah Lawrence (Ohio State) #
10. Ben Hale (Furman)
11. TJ Bush (James Madison)
12. Paul Tyson (Georgia State, England)
13. Chase Vosvick (Loyola Maryland)
14. Drew Romig (Belmont)
15. Keagan McLaughlin (Notre Dame)

# - Pulisic signed with Austin FC, Pannenberg with Colorado Springs, and Shutler with North Texas SC. Saunders and Lawrence were drafted by Nashville and Austin, respectively.

One to Watch: Noah Lawrence. Describing Lawrence’s last 18 months as “tumultuous” would be underselling it. After the former Bearcat saw the University of Cincinnati terminate their men’s soccer program, Lawrence joined Ohio State for his last year of eligibility before COVID upended his senior season. In January, Lawrence heard his name called in the third round of the 2021 MLS Superdraft, showing his hard work had not gone unnoticed. However, Austin has since stocked up on young goalkeeping talent (Brady Scott, Will Pulisic), leaving Lawrence with yet another challenge to clear.

Lawrence’s game is built off of covering ground quickly and easily, although he has struggled to solve tight situations consistently. If the Bearcat-turned-Buckeye goalkeeper can add more tools to his toolbox to effectively take vertical space and solve awkward close-range shooting situations, look for Lawrence to work his way up Austin’s goalkeeping depth chart.

Juniors

1. Giannis Nikopolidis (Georgetown, Greece)
2. Neil Strauber (Florida Atlantic, Israel)
3. Carson Williams (Villanova)
4. Eliot Hamill (Duke)
5. Andrew Thomas (Stanford)
6. Daniel Husa (Gardner-Webb, Norway)
7. Quantrell Jones (UMBC)
8. Trevor Schneider (UTRGV, Canada)
9. Rimi Olatunji (Providence, Canada)
10. George Marks (Clemson)

One to Watch: Eliot Hamill. It’s not common for a goalkeeper with no USYNT experience to sit for three falls then take over the starting position for an ACC. However, after the exit of senior goalkeeper Will Pulisic, Duke turned to Hamill for the bulk of their minutes. Although USYNT alum and freshman goalkeeper JT Harms received some playing time, Hamil’s experience to handle pressure was something that impressed head coach John Kerr, which says a lot about Hamill’s determination to continue to develop despite the lack of minutes.

Similar to Lawrence, Hamill possesses impressive speed and reflexes but can resort to “shooting from the hip” when plays break down, which happened a fair bit during Duke’s 4-3-10 (W-T-L) season. Starting for Duke in itself is no easy feat - and keeping Harms on the bench only adds to the pressure - but Hamill could quickly find himself going from an unknown backup goalkeeper to a top prospect for the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, if he’s able to find a healthy blend of methodical and improvisational.

Sophomores

1. Lluis Martorell (SIUE, Spain)
2. Roman Celentano (Indiana)
3. Kris Shakes (Penn State)
4. Ryan Troutman (Kentucky)
5. Matt Zambetti (Virginia Tech)
6. Michael Collodi (Columbia)
7. Giacomo Piccardo (Davidson, Italy)
8. Seanan Main (Western Illinois, Canada)
9. Holden Trent (High Point)
10. Sam Fowler (Washington)

One to Watch: Roman Celentano. Celentano fits the bill for a typical Hoosier goalkeeper: big, strong hands, and confident cross management skills. The Illinois native plays in a way that is eerily reminiscent of goalkeeping from the early-00s, almost as if he missed the memo that goalkeepers don’t collect crosses outside of their six-yard box anymore.

Typically Indiana’s defense does well to protect their goalkeepers (notice the yearly high save percentage for their goalkeepers) and this year is no different. However, the modern game asks for goalkeepers to make quick, nuanced decisions in tenths of a second. Celentano reads attacking balls well but isn’t extremely quick-footed and can make playing out of the back look cumbersome at times. For goalkeepers with Celentano’s size, it’s not uncommon to perform well at the amateur level but plateau moving forward. Look to see if Celentano can answer nuanced questions within the position and be more than just a big goalkeeper moving forward.

Freshmen

1. Luis Ludosan (St. Joseph's, Romania)
2. Lorenzo Gordon (American)
3. Cyrus Margono (Kentucky)
4. Leon Musial (UNC Asheville, Germany)
5. Emil Larsen (Wofford, Denmark)
6. Josue Hangi (Akron)
7. Alex Bobocea (Loyola, MD)
8. Owen Elliott (Penn State)
9. Ryan Schewe (Georgetown)
10. Brandon Keniston (San Francisco)

One to Watch: Cyrus Margono. What’s in store for the future of Kentucky’s goalkeeping core is anybody’s guess. The Wildcats rotated three goalkeepers this season, including redshirt freshman Cyrus Margono, who transferred out of the University of Denver to join Kentucky. Although Margono only picked up one win in his three appearances, he played about as good as one could hope a 19-year-old stepping in for a top 25 school would. Margono possesses the athleticism and poise to take over the starting position but Kentucky saw success with sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Troutman in net, going 7-2-1 (W-T-L) over the ten games. Margono didn’t transfer to sit on the bench but Kentucky is well prepared to move forward in the post-Enrique Facusse era with two talented goalkeepers. Keep an eye out for who emerges as the top goalkeeper in Lexington.

Past Collegiate Goalkeeper Rankings

2020: Preseason
2019: Preseason and Final
2018: Preseason and Final
2017: Preseason and Final
2016: Preseason and Final
2015: Preseason and Final
2014: Final

The Top U23 American Goalkeepers

(Author’s note: Originally this list was published with Hemmo Riihimaki (18, KuPS) at 19th but Riihimaki was incorrectly listed as American. The rankings have been edited since.)

Rumors of an MLS U23 league have swirled for nearly a year until earlier this summer MLS announced 2022 will feature a lower league to distribute professional minutes to aspiring prospects. As MLS teams begin to assemble their rosters, coaches and scouts will comb through young talent to find potential goalkeepers that could eventually take the starting spot for the senior squad. Even though the US’s U23 squad failed to qualify for the 2020 Olympic tournament, there is still a plethora of promising young goalkeepers.

This list focuses almost exclusively on goalkeepers between 18 and 23 years old, although there are a few exceptions of younger players. The top ten goalkeepers are highlighted with a brief bio while another forty are ranked to display where are top goalkeepers are being developed. Goalkeepers are sorted on a blend of potential, current form, and past performances.

1. Ethan Wady, 19 - Chelsea U23s

Wady has quietly chipped away at making a career in England’s highly competitive environment. Over the past three years, Wady has ventured three different loans but it wasn’t until 2021 that the English-American goalkeeper started receiving significant minutes within Chelsea’s system. Wady has a nice blend of height and mobility, which terrifies opposing strikers trying to slip a shot past the 6’4” prospect. Chelsea aren’t short on options so his playing time isn’t easy to come by. However, if Wady can continue to prove he’s more than a big body in between the sticks - which he has successfully done so thus far - look for Wady to make in-roads for either England’s or the US’s Olympic squad in 2024.

2. Brooks Thompson, 19 - Sporting Kansas City

Although Thompson’s professional debut came in 2019, 2020 was Thompson’s coming-out party. Starting seven matches for Sporting Kansas City II, Thompson was one of five goalkeepers who received time in goal for SKC 2. In June, the Indiana-native recently returned from a lengthy injury recovery process to start in a 4-1 loss against Tulsa FC and struggling between deploying the popular K-save (think David de Gea) or standing his ground and react. Thompson has worked himself into a great position at 19 years old but he’ll need to continue detailing every facet if he wants to give himself a chance at playing beyond MLS.

3. Brandon Austin, 22 - Orlando City SC

Bradon Austin joins Orlando City on a loan from Tottenham’s U23s, where he received the bulk of his minutes last fall. Austin debuted with his new club in a 3-2 win over Toronto in late June, winning three of his five matches over a three-week stretch. The lanky English-born 22-year-old looked a little unsure in his first match with Orlando but his combination of size and speed makes for an intriguing future. Austin’s international status is still a little gray for the public, being both cited as a potential USMNT prospect and ineligible for the US from various outlets. If Austin turns out to be eligible for the US and continues to receive investment from his clubs, don’t be surprised to see another American goalkeeper back in the EPL.

4. Chris Brady, 17 - Chicago Fire

Brady is part of the new wave of young professional goalkeepers receiving a commitment from MLS sides. At just 16 years old, Brady saw eight starts in 2020 for Forward Madison after being sent out on loan from the Chicago Fire. For goalkeepers still in their teens, it’s uncommon to see a goalkeeper so polished in both technical and tactical areas but Brady is already checking a number of boxes. Undoubtedly Brady’s meticulous development combined with the poise of a professional well beyond his years paved the way for him to win the 2020 USL League One Young Player of the Year award. As for the Fire’s long-term plans, it’ll likely be a few years until we see him featured with the team due to his age. Fans of Brady’s game will have to stay patient for his MLS debut.

5. Carlos dos Santos, 20 - Benfica B

Playing time has been difficult to come by for dos Santos but if there’s anything to take away from Ethan Horvath’s most recent outing with the USMNT, it’s that you can train in a way that still keeps you prepared for when your moment arrives. Dos Santos received two starts in January with Benfica’s B squad, tying both games 1-1 and 2-2. In the latter match against Vilafranquense, he performed about what you’d expect a sweeper keeper with limited games would look like. Dos Santos’ game is built around boom or bust decision-making that has to be executed in tenths of a second. If he’s unable to find the right environment to detail his craft, his front footedness will risk going to waste.

6. Benny Diaz, 22 - Club Tijuana

Diaz received his professional debut on the heels of starting goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco being unable to finish a league match in April, opening the door for Diaz to make a 2 and 1/3 game run. Although Diaz was unable to pull out a result in the short spell, it was clear that Diaz felt more than comfortable playing a high line, if not outright dangerously too far from his goal. Similar to dos Santos, if Diaz is to reach his potential he’ll need a strong commitment to help him find the perfect balance of aggressiveness without reckless abandon. Liga MX teams aren’t historically great at giving minutes to young goalkeepers, although there seem to be some recent signs of that changing. If Diaz can continue to be intentionally developed, and not just randomly given minutes here and there, he could be a Rimando-esque surprise for fans down the line.

7. Rocco Rios Novo, 19 - Atlanta United 2

The California-born goalkeeper originally made waves for himself with Argentina’s U17 squad, winning the 2019 South American U-17 Championship and reaching the knockout round at the proceeding World Cup. Rios Novo fell off the radar over the following two years until resurfacing with Atlanta United through a loan deal from Argentine club Club Atlético Lanús. With Atlanta, Rios Novo preserved 135 minutes of shutout action after Brad Guzan’s red card in CONCACAF Champions League and has conceded only nine goals in seven appearances with Atlanta’s USL side this season. Although the young Argentine-American possesses the poise of a veteran in goal, his vertical and negative movement in goal can feel a little unsure at times. If Atlanta can instill a solid tactical foundation, look for Rios Novo to reemerge on the scene as more than a promising prospect.

8. John Pulskamp, 20 - Sporting Kansas City

Pulskamp has taken an odd route to end up where he is but Sporting Kansas City isn’t complaining. After leaving the Galaxy academy for a trial with Bournemouth FC, Pulskamp returned to the states in 2019 with SKC’s reserve side, Swope Park Rangers (now named Sporting Kansas City 2). Pulskamp received the bulk of the starts with their USL side in 2019 and was promoted to the first team soon after. Although few expected him to see minutes so quickly, Pulskamp opened the 2021 season in place for an injured Tim Melia and promptly made a statement for himself as more than just a developing backup. Although he has a tendency to run down the line on some plays that require patient decision-making, Pulskamp’s balance and quick footwork allow him to pull back shots destined for the net. If Pulskamp can continue to find minutes and consistency, the California-native could be a front-runner to replace Melia sooner than later.

9. Matt Freese, 22 - Philadelphia Union

Although the recent red card may imply the opposite, Freese’s game is built off consistency. He rarely looks out of depth and technically speaking he’s one of the most sound goalkeepers in the pool. And while the title of being an Olympic backup won’t impress some, he’s continued on a steady track since joining the Philadelphia Union. Recently, Freese earned the nod when Jamaican international Andre Blake left for the Gold Cup. Unfortunately, Freese’s his first minutes of the season ended short when he tugged a striker back while fighting for a loose ball. Although it’s an uncharacteristic error for Freese - and something we shouldn’t expect to see more of - there are still some question marks about his overall ceiling. Freese has made few errors in his professional minutes but he’s also displayed few game-changing saves. If Freese can capitalize on his consistency and add a layer of dynamic game-saving moments, he could make Manchester United just one of many interested European sides.

10. Nicolas Defreitas-Hansen, 20 - Swansea City U23s

Photo from Toffeeweb.

Everton brought Defreitas-Hansen over in 2017 and although he received minutes early on, eventually his time dwindled with the Blues. This summer Defreitas-Hansen relocated with Swansea City in hopes of a clean slate and more playing time. Similar to Freese, Defreitas-Hansen’s game is built off consistency and although he’s not unathletic, he marks about average in the age group for his spring and reactions. The polarizing grind of the Premier League’s structure can either harden a goalkeeper’s resolve through fire or quickly burn them out. Add on top that Defreitas-Hansen has already been featured within both the US and Denmark’s YNT setup, Defreitas-Hansen’s track to the USMNT is a difficult one. However, if he can regain some traction and continue to develop, he still has time to become a successful goalkeeper for both club and country.

11. David Ochoa, 20 - Real Salt Lake
12. Eric Lopez, 22 - Los Angeles Galaxy
13. Brady Scott, 21 - Memphis 901
14. Victor Vidal, 21 - Lleida Esportiu (Spain)
15. Zion Suzuki, 18 - Urawa Red Diamon (Japan)
16. Tomas Romero, 20 - Los Angeles FC
17. Damian Las, 19 - North Carolina FC
18. Hector Holguin, 20 - Santos U20s (Mexico)
19. Hunter Sulte, 19 - Portland Timbers
20. Eric De La Cerda, 20 - San Jose Earthquakes