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 | 8.34 | 72.4 | 105 | 0.85 | 44.1 |
| 2 | Bart Verbruggen | Brighton | 7.50 | 71.7 | 145 | 1.21 | 26.3 |
| 3 | Matz Sels | Nottingham Forest | 7.37 | 72.4 | 127 | 1.32 | 23.3 |
| 4 | David Raya | Arsenal | 7.06 | 69.8 | 86 | 0.70 | 51.4 |
| 5 | Robin Roefs | Sunderland | 7.00 | 70.9 | 151 | 1.31 | 28.6 |
| 6 | Emiliano Martínez | Aston Villa | 6.69 | 70.7 | 133 | 1.24 | 25.0 |
| 7 | Nick Pope | Newcastle United | 6.54 | 71.2 | 125 | 1.42 | 25.9 |
| 8 | Karl Darlow | Leeds United | 6.53 | 71.6 | 88 | 1.23 | 22.7 |
| 9 | Caoimhín Kelleher | Brentford | 6.32 | 69.9 | 146 | 1.32 | 27.0 |
| 10 | Đorđe Petrović | Bournemouth | 6.05 | 69.4 | 157 | 1.42 | 28.9 |
| 11 | Dean Henderson | Crystal Palace | 5.98 | 69.3 | 150 | 1.38 | 29.7 |
| 12 | Senne Lammens | Manchester Utd | 5.68 | 69.3 | 114 | 1.22 | 25.0 |
| 13 | Jordan Pickford | Everton | 5.07 | 67.6 | 145 | 1.32 | 28.9 |
| 14 | Robert Sánchez | Chelsea | 4.76 | 67.6 | 145 | 1.45 | 25.7 |
| 15 | Bernd Leno | Fulham | 4.66 | 67.1 | 146 | 1.34 | 23.7 |
| 16 | Alphonse Areola | West Ham United | 4.54 | 70.4 | 108 | 1.85 | 0.0 |
| 17 | Alisson | Liverpool | 3.79 | 66.3 | 86 | 1.19 | 30.8 |
| 18 | Martin Dúbravka | Burnley | 3.22 | 66.1 | 192 | 2.03 | 11.4 |
| 19 | José Sá | Wolves | 2.59 | 65.7 | 99 | 1.61 | 17.4 |
| 20 | Guglielmo Vicario | Tottenham Hotspur | 1.87 | 63.4 | 131 | 1.61 | 22.6 |
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 tops the TopGK Index, combining the joint-highest save percentage (72.4%) with one of the league’s best goals-conceded records (0.85 per 90).
- David Raya records the lowest goals conceded per 90 (0.70) and the highest clean-sheet percentage (51.4%), helping Arsenal remain one of the league’s toughest teams to break down.
- Bart Verbruggen and Robin Roefs both rank highly despite facing heavy workloads, showing that strong save percentages can be maintained under pressure.
- Martin Dúbravka faced more shots on target than any goalkeeper in the league (192), highlighting the volume of work required behind Burnley’s defence.
- Guglielmo Vicario finishes last in the rankings, largely due to the lowest save percentage among the 20 starting goalkeepers (63.4%). It’s also worth noting that Vicario missed several matches towards the end of the campaign, during a spell when Tottenham’s defensive performances improved as a whole.
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.