Goalkeeper performance is often judged using very simple statistics such as clean sheets or save percentage. While these numbers are useful, they can also be misleading when viewed in isolation.
For example, goalkeepers playing behind dominant teams may face fewer shots, which can inflate their clean sheet totals. Meanwhile, goalkeepers at weaker teams may produce excellent performances despite conceding more goals simply because they face a much heavier workload.
To provide a fairer comparison, we created the GK Performance Index. This model combines several key goalkeeping statistics to produce a more balanced ranking of Premier League goalkeepers.
Premier League Goalkeeper Rankings (2025-26)
The table below ranks Premier League goalkeepers using the GK Performance Index, which combines save percentage, goals conceded per 90 minutes, shot volume and clean sheet rate into a single overall score.
| Rank | Goalkeeper | Team | TopGK Index | Save % | SoTA | GA/90 | CS% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gianluigi Donnarumma | Manchester City | 8.28 | 73.0 | 89 | 0.86 | 42.9 |
| 2 | Robin Roefs | Sunderland | 8.14 | 73.8 | 122 | 1.17 | 31.0 |
| 3 | Bart Verbruggen | Brighton | 7.94 | 73.6 | 121 | 1.16 | 25.0 |
| 4 | Dean Henderson | Crystal Palace | 7.74 | 72.9 | 118 | 1.20 | 33.3 |
| 5 | Jordan Pickford | Everton | 7.43 | 71.7 | 120 | 1.16 | 34.4 |
| 6 | Emiliano Martínez | Aston Villa | 7.40 | 72.1 | 104 | 1.09 | 29.6 |
| 7 | David Raya | Arsenal | 6.55 | 68.0 | 75 | 0.75 | 46.9 |
| 8 | Matz Sels | Nottingham Forest | 6.55 | 71.7 | 99 | 1.35 | 25.0 |
| 9 | Robert Sánchez | Chelsea | 6.04 | 69.1 | 123 | 1.34 | 30.0 |
| 10 | Đorđe Petrović | Bournemouth | 5.83 | 69.1 | 139 | 1.53 | 28.1 |
| 11 | Nick Pope | Newcastle United | 5.48 | 69.1 | 97 | 1.46 | 31.8 |
| 12 | Karl Darlow | Leeds United | 5.47 | 70.0 | 60 | 1.25 | 18.8 |
| 13 | Caoimhín Kelleher | Brentford | 5.40 | 67.8 | 115 | 1.32 | 25.8 |
| 14 | Alisson | Liverpool | 4.95 | 66.7 | 84 | 1.20 | 32.0 |
| 15 | Alphonse Areola | West Ham United | 4.64 | 70.4 | 108 | 1.85 | 0.0 |
| 16 | Senne Lammens | Manchester Utd | 4.54 | 66.7 | 90 | 1.31 | 19.2 |
| 17 | Martin Dúbravka | Burnley | 4.14 | 66.7 | 171 | 1.97 | 12.5 |
| 18 | Bernd Leno | Fulham | 4.08 | 65.0 | 123 | 1.44 | 18.8 |
| 19 | Guglielmo Vicario | Tottenham Hotspur | 3.33 | 63.4 | 131 | 1.61 | 22.6 |
| 20 | José Sá | Wolves | 2.10 | 62.4 | 85 | 1.70 | 20.0 |
Stat definitions: Save % (shots on target saved), SoTA (shots on target against), GA/90 (goals conceded per 90 minutes), CS (clean sheets).
Key Goalkeeping Insights
- Gianluigi Donnarumma leads the rankings thanks to an outstanding mix of save percentage, low goals conceded per 90, and one of the strongest clean sheet rates in the league.
- Robin Roefs has been one of the Premier League’s most effective shot stoppers, posting the best save percentage in the table while also handling a demanding workload for Sunderland.
- Bart Verbruggen continues to score extremely well, combining elite save efficiency with a heavy volume of shots on target faced for Brighton.
- David Raya has the best GA/90 and clean sheet percentage in the rankings, underlining both his own reliability and Arsenal’s defensive control.
- Martin Dúbravka faces the heaviest workload in the table, dealing with more shots on target than any other goalkeeper in the league.
How the GK Performance Index Works
The GK Performance Index evaluates goalkeepers using four key performance indicators. Each metric is converted to a standardised score and combined to produce a final index value.
- Save Percentage (50%) – Measures a goalkeeper’s ability to stop shots on target. This is the most direct indicator of shot-stopping performance.
- Goals Conceded per 90 Minutes (25%) – Reflects match outcomes while accounting for differences in playing time.
- Shots on Target Against (15%) – Rewards goalkeepers who perform well despite facing a heavier workload.
- Clean Sheet Percentage (10%) – Recognises the ability to keep opponents from scoring, while still acknowledging the influence of team strength.
Each category is normalised across the league to create a score out of 10. The weighted scores are then combined to produce the final GK Performance Index.
Why This Approach Is More Balanced
Many traditional goalkeeper rankings rely heavily on clean sheets or goals conceded. However, these statistics are strongly influenced by team strength. A goalkeeper playing behind a dominant defence will usually face fewer shots and fewer difficult situations than one playing behind a weaker back line.
The GK Performance Index aims to provide a more balanced comparison by including both save efficiency and shot volume, rather than simply assuming that the goalkeeper on the strongest team is performing best.
By combining multiple metrics instead of relying on a single headline number, the model offers a broader view of goalkeeper performance across the Premier League.
Statistics sourced from FBref.com and updated monthly.