Bundesliga investments low
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This summer, Chelsea FC signed two goalkeeper talents, Filip Jørgensen (22) and Mike Penders (19; loaned back to Genk), for a total of €44.5 million – despite already having several notable goalkeepers in their squad, including mainstay Robert Sánchez (26). No club has invested more in the goalkeeper position than the Blues internationally since 2000, as a look into the TM database reveals. Particularly in the Bundesliga, investments are comparatively low, even though Germany has always been considered a country of goalkeepers: only FC Bayern appears in the top 30 due to players like Manuel Neuer (38).
Over the past 24 years, Munich has spent €50.9 million on eleven goalkeepers. Twenty clubs have invested more in this position, including Premier League newcomer FC Southampton, which signed Aaron Ramsdale in summer 2024 for €21.4 million from Arsenal. The most money spent on a goalkeeper by the Munich club was in 2011, when Neuer joined from FC Schalke for €30 million. To this day, the 38-year-old remains the most expensive German keeper, ahead of Bernd Leno (32), who transferred from Bayer Leverkusen to Arsenal for €25 million in 2018. In the global comparison, he shares the ninth spot with Liverpool’s Giorgi Mamardashvili (23), who was immediately loaned back to FC Valencia.
At Liverpool, Mamardashvili is set to succeed Alisson (31), who became the record holder after his €62.5 million transfer in 2018. However, Kepa Arrizabalaga (29) broke the record later that same year when he moved to Chelsea: the Londoners paid €80 million to Bilbao. Kepa is still under contract, although he has not been a first-team player for a while. Currently, the Spaniard is on loan at Bournemouth. In theory, the Blues could field nine goalkeepers, five of whom are currently loaned out: Kepa, Penders, Djordje Petrovic (24; Strasbourg), Gabriel Slonina (20; Barnsley), and Eddie Beach (20; Crawley).
Liverpool has invested around €146 million in keepers since 2000, making it the second highest spender in this position. The top 10 includes four other English clubs: Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United. Juventus ranks third, spending €143 million – including €52.9 million in the summer of 2001 for then 23-year-old Gianluigi Buffon (46).