Across professional soccer leagues, the position that consistently receives the lowest average wages is the goalkeeper. Generally, player salaries increase moving from defensive to offensive positions. However, there are goalkeepers that receive great salaries, and here is a list of the top 10 highest-paid goalkeepers.
Top 10 highest-paid goalkeepers in the world
- Manuel Neuer – Bayern Munich – £339,000
- Jan Oblak – Atlético Madrid – £334,000
- Gianluigi Donnarumma – Manchester City – £250,000
- Thibaut Courtois – Real Madrid – £240,000
- Edouard Mendy – Al-Ahli – £177,000
- Yassine Bounou – Al-Hilal – £161,000
- Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa – £150,000
- Alisson – Liverpool – £150,000
- Gregor Kobel – Borussia Dortmund – £145,000
- Bernd Leno – Fulham – £130,000
10. Bernd Leno – Fulham – £130,000
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Bernd Leno is the highest-paid player at Fulham
Leno gained popularity with his move to Arsenal, where he displaced veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech. However, after a couple of years and the arrival of Mikel Arteta, Leno was usurped by Aaron Ramsdale and moved to leave the Emirates.
Fulham’s manager Marco Silva had belief in him after getting him for a cut price, and he was made the highest-paid player on the team. He has since repaid the faith with some top performances.
9. Gregor Kobel – Borussia Dortmund – £145,000
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Gregor Kobel of Dortmund
It might come as a surprise that Kobel is on this list, especially as he does not play for a Premier League side or a club that is known to pay huge salaries.
The Swiss goalkeeper moved to Dortmund from Stuttgart in 2021, and he took over the first-choice spot from Roman Burki.
8. Alisson – Liverpool – £150,000
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Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker | Imago
To some, the Liverpool shot-stopper is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, and this is reflected in his pay compared to others.
No goalkeeper earns a higher salary than Alisson in the Premier League, with only Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez matching his pay.
The Brazilian has definitely earned his pay, having led the Reds to two Premier League and one Champions League titles.
7. Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa – £150,000
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Emi Martinez (Image Credit: Getty Images)
The rise of Emi Martinez is one of the most interesting ones in football over the last couple of years. The Argentine goalkeeper got an opportunity to show his level at Arsenal in 2020 after first-choice Bernd Leno picked up a serious injury.
Martínez grabbed this opportunity with both hands, and while Arteta did not leave him as the first choice upon Leno’s return, it earned him a move to Aston Villa and becoming Argentina’s number one.
Having won the FIFA best-goalkeeper award thanks to his 2022 World Cup win with Argentina, it is no surprise that Villa deemed it fit to make him the joint-highest-paid goalkeeper in the EPL.
6. Yassine Bounou – Al-Hilal – £161,000
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Yassine ‘Bono’ Bounou was outstanding in Qatar 2022 for Morocco | Imago
Al-Hilal signed Bounou from Sevilla after his impressive run with Morocco in the 2022 World Cup that led to the country finishing fourth.
The Saudi Arabian club pays him well, and he also offers top performances in return, as shown during the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 when his side defeated Manchester City.
5. Edouard Mendy – Al-Ahli – £177,000
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Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy
Another African goalkeeper earning well in the Saudi League, Mendy made his name during a spell with Chelsea.
The Senegalese goalkeeper led the Blues to the Champions League title in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel, and he was considered one of the best in the Premier League at the time.
Mendy was also a crucial player in Senegal’s team that won the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 2021.
4. Thibaut Courtois – Real Madrid – £240,000
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Thibaut Courtois || Imago
The Belgian goalkeeper rose to the top quite early in his career, making a name for himself at Real Madrid’s arch-rivals Atlético Madrid, where he won four trophies, including one La Liga title
His performances would earn him a move to Chelsea, where he spent seven years, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup.
Courtois returned to Madrid, but this time to Real Madrid, citing that he wants to live close to his children. This move was unpopular with Atletico fans and some Chelsea fans, but it propelled the Belgian to another level.
Since then, he has won three league titles, two UCLs, and several other titles, while seeing his salary rise to fit his status.
3. Gianluigi Donnarumma – Manchester City – £250,000
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Gianluigi Donnarumma
Donnarumma has long been regarded as one of the best young goalkeepers in the world, having broken into AC Milan’s first team at just 16 years old.
His performances earned him a high-profile move to PSG, where he won multiple domestic titles and claimed the Yashin Trophy after helping Italy win Euro 2020.
His switch to Manchester City further elevated his earnings and status, with Pep Guardiola seeing him as the ideal long-term replacement in goal.
With his shot-stopping ability, composure, and experience, it is no surprise he ranks among the highest-paid goalkeepers globally.
2. Jan Oblak – Atlético Madrid – £334,000
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Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak | Imago
Oblak has been one of the most consistent performers in world football over the last decade. Since joining Atlético Madrid in 2014, he has been the backbone of Diego Simeone’s defensive system.
The Slovenian has won multiple Zamora Trophies (awarded to La Liga’s best goalkeeper) and has played a key role in Atlético’s league title win in 2021.
His reliability, command of the box, and world-class reflexes justify his massive wages, making him one of the highest-paid goalkeepers in the world.
1. Manuel Neuer – Bayern Munich – £339,000
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Manuel Neuer, Germany goalkeeper || Credit: Getty Image
Neuer is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time and a pioneer of the modern “sweeper-keeper” role.
Since joining Bayern Munich in 2011, he has won every major trophy multiple times, including the Champions League, Bundesliga titles, and the 2014 World Cup with Germany.
Even in the later stages of his career, he remains vital for Bayern due to his leadership, technique, and exceptional ability with the ball at his feet.
His salary reflects not only his legendary status but also the invaluable experience he brings to one of the biggest clubs in world football.