All 24 EFL Championship goalkeepers ranked from best to worst..
The calibre of individual players within the Championship has certainly increased in recent seasons.
Despite it so often being stated that, in terms of overall squads and finances, the gap between the second tier and Premier League has never been bigger, those within the top flight have started to take an even-greater notice of the talent on show throughout the division.
There are plenty of goalkeepers who have become household names in the Championship, as well as some who have excelled beyond initial expectations either in the short and long-term, leaving them with plenty of admirers when it comes to even opposition fanbases as well as representatives of other clubs drafting transfer window shortlists.
Taking key factors into account, Football League World has, therefore, decided to rank each club’s goalkeeper from best to worst.
Note: Each goalkeeper included has made the highest number of appearances for their club up to matchday 38 of 2024/25
1
James Trafford
James Trafford celebrates his penalty save against Sunderland for Burnley
Kickstarting this list is Burnley’s record-breaking shot-stopper James Trafford, who has come on leaps and bounds this season at Turf Moor.
After initially struggling for the Clarets after a £19m move from Manchester City in 2023, the former Bolton Wanderers loanee has arguably been the standout performer for Scott Parker’s side this season, keeping a total of 26 clean sheets in 37 matches and preventing a league-high of 11.4 further strikes.
The 22-year-old also went on a Championship-record period of 1,132 minutes without conceding between late-December and March, as the Clarets held a run of 12 consecutive shutouts.
Trafford in the Championship this season, as per FotMob (As of 20/03/25).
Appearances
37
Clean sheets
26
Penalty saves
2
Save percentage
86.7%
Goals prevented
11.36
Errors leading to a goal
0.
Unsurprisingly, this has only heightened interest from the likes of Newcastle United, Manchester United and West Ham as the shot-stopper has also been welcomed back into the England senior squad under Thomas Tuchel.
2
Michael Cooper
Michael Cooper in action for Sheffield United
Michael Cooper has, pound-for-pound, been one of the signings of the season, having joined Sheffield United from Plymouth Argyle for an initial £2m sum.
The 25-year-old was a standout performer for the Greens in their promotion from League One and continued to impress in the second tier after returning from a lengthy absence, before further increasing his stock at Bramall Lane this term.
Cooper has one of the highest save percentage and clean sheet records in the division, which is in no small part down to the fact he would not concede a goal in the Steel City from his home bow against Watford until the 2-0 defeat to Burnley on Boxing Day.
United shipped a Premier League-high total of 104 concessions last term, although if promotion was to be achieved this season, many would back the Exeter-born man to make the step-up into the top flight for the first time in his career.
3
Viktor Johansson
Viktor Johansson of Stoke City
Viktor Johansson earned mass praise for his performances at Rotherham United last term, and it was viewed as a major coup for Stoke City to have acquired the Swede’s services for an initial bargain price of just £750,000 in the summer.
The Aston Villa academy graduate ranked the highest for saves per 90 minutes during his final season at the New York Stadium and, with a tally of 3.2 goals prevented, made the Millers’ season look somewhat more respectable despite a dismal tally of 27 points.
Johansson has continued to excel between the posts in Staffordshire, despite the fact Stoke have changed the guard three times already during his stint, with the 26-year-old still ranking within the division’s best goalkeepers when it comes to save percentage and saves per 90 minutes.
With interest from AFC Bournemouth and Serie A outfit Como surfacing, not many could begrudge the Swedish international for looking to source top-flight football for the first time in his career.
4
Illan Meslier
Illan Meslier of Leeds United at Elland Road
Despite the fact that many could define Illan Meslier’s current season through notable mishaps against Sunderland, Hull City and Sheffield United, the Frenchman remains one of the best in the division between the sticks.
The man who signed from FC Lorient on a permanent basis for £5m after United’s promotion in 2020 led the way in terms of clean sheets last term with a total of 18, and has already surpassed that number in Daniel Farke’s second season in charge as the side continue to have one of the second tier’s meanest defences.
However, his save percentage is considerably down on the likes of Trafford and Cooper, whilst Meslier’s future as ‘number one’ at Elland Road has been put into doubt as Leeds have been linked with Aaron Ramsdale and Caoimhin Kelleher heading into the summer, where they hope to have regained their Premier League status.
5
Anthony Patterson
Anthony Patterson of Sunderland
Anthony Patterson has become one of the Championship’s most sought-after goalkeepers in recent times, despite only featuring at this level for three seasons with Sunderland.
Despite a dire second half of last season which saw the Mackems slip to 16th in the table, the academy graduate saw himself linked with potential moves to Liverpool and Manchester City, but continued to ply his trade at the Stadium of Light and kept a total of six clean sheets throughout the first 10 games of the season as Regis Le Bris got off to a flying start on Wearside.
However, form has dipped off significantly for the Black Cats after Patterson was once again linked with a move away in January amid interest from Manchester United and Tottenham, with a notable error coming in the 1-0 defeat to Hull City in February.
Patterson was valued between £15-20m in the summer, and with his contract running until 2028, there is still plenty of time for his stock to continue rising as suitors from the Premier League lurk.
6
Aynsley Pears
Aynsley Pears playing for Blackburn Rovers
Despite the fact that Blackburn added to their goalkeeping ranks with the addition of Balasz Toth in the summer, Aynsley Pears has continued to rise above such competition, with the 26-year-old excelling between the sticks this term after last campaign’s mixed fortunes.
The former Middlesbrough man is comfortably within the Championship’s top five shot-stoppers when it comes to goal prevention, as well as holding an extremely admirable save percentage and clean sheet record.
Rovers’ form has started to tail off in recent weeks as John Eustace departed and was replaced by Valerien Ismael. However, if the East Lancashire side are to bridge the small gap between themselves and the play-offs, they will need Pears to return to his best form as soon as possible.
The Ewood Park club have had plenty of notable shot-stoppers in recent history, and whilst the Durham native wouldn’t be placed within the same stratosphere as the likes of Brad Friedel, he has put in an array of dependable performances.
7
Max O’Leary
Max O’Leary of Bristol City
Max O’Leary has been a mainstay in the Bristol City side for the past three seasons, with the former Shrewsbury Town loanee a key facet behind their push for the play-offs this season.
The Republic of Ireland international has reached a double-figure tally of clean sheets for the second successive season, and has earned praise from the Robins boss for keeping his team in several contests this term, despite making an error which saw the West Country side drop two points against QPR back in December.
A product of the club’s academy, O’Leary is currently tied down at Ashton Gate until 2026, meaning that the club have to act as soon as possible to ensure they don’t risk losing his services on the cheap as he nears the final year of his deal.
8
Daniel Bachmann
Daniel Bachmann playing for Watford
Although Watford haven’t had the smoothest of rides since dropping back into the Championship in 2022, Daniel Bachmann has continued to be one of the Hornets’ most consistent performers.
The Austrian managed to keep 27 clean sheets between the start of 2022/23 and the end of last season, although this season has been a personal tale of misfortune despite the side’s play-off bid under Tom Cleverley.
Bachmann has been out of action since January 4th after sustaining an ankle issue against Sheffield United at Vicarage Road, with Egil Sevik joining from Udinese late in the transfer window as a result.
It remains to be seen whether Cleverley will re-instate Bachmann into the starting lineup once the former Stoke City man returns from injury, but there’s no denying how much of a valuable asset he has been to Watford in the past five years.
9
Oliver Dovin
Oliver Dovin in goal for Coventry City
Oliver Dovin made the switch from Hammarby to Coventry City for a reported £1.5m in Mark Robins’ final transfer window, and has begun to fully showcase his capabilities for the Sky Blues after a mixed start.
Since Frank Lampard’s arrival, the London-born Sweden international has been instrumental in City’s rise up the Championship table, keeping seven clean sheets from Boxing Day up until a 3-0 demolition of play-off rivals Sunderland ahead of the March international break as the club won nine out of 10 league games for the first time ever.
As a result, the 22-year-old’s numbers in terms of save percentage and goal prevention have skyrocketed, and he will no doubt have a huge say as to whether the Sky Blues can end their lengthy Premier League exile at the end of the season.
10
Freddie Woodman
Freddie Woodman at Preston North End
Freddie Woodman’s 2024/25 season has been very up-and-down, with the 28-year-old keeping over 15 clean sheets across all competitions as North End have improved as a defensive unit in time under Paul Heckingbottom.
Of course, the campaign hasn’t been faultless for the former Swansea City man, who has taken criticism from supporters for a handful of mishaps, but his contract situation will prove to be a concern in the long run, as the Lilywhites will have to take action one way or another.
It was exclusively revealed by FLW in December that Woodman and the club had begun talks over a fresh deal, before the Sun reported the club were open to a sale in the final days of the most recent transfer window, as they eyed up Wigan Athletic’s Sam Tickle.
It remains to be seen what the future holds at Deepdale for the son of Bromley manager, Andy, but he would definitely be a shrewd free-agent addition for a plethora of second tier sides in the summer.
About The Author
