Nine of the world’s richest shot-stoppers.
With news that Manchester City are set to offer Joe Hart a new contract to make him the highest paid goalkeeper in the world, CaughtOffside looks at a list of the most well paid players in that position as it stands.
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Often regarded as an undervalued position on the football pitch, there is still great money to be paid for the very best keepers, as this list shows, with some big names at top clubs earning vast amounts for their performances between the sticks at the moment.
Hart’s bumper pay rise could move him ahead of some truly legendary names, including one of his Premier League rivals and also Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer, who was recently nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The full list is as follows:
9) Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain, £2.6m per year)
A top class shot-stopper, Paris Saint-Germain’s Salvatore Sirigu is one of many big names earning good money at the mega-rich French giants at the moment.
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8) Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur, £3.59m)
One of the best in the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur star Hugo Lloris recently signed a new deal at White Hart Lane and is eighth highest paid in the world overall.
7) David de Gea (Manchester United, £3.64m)
Another top class keeper in the Premier League at the moment, Manchester United’s David de Gea comes seventh on this list.
6 Pepe Reina (Bayern Munich, £4.16m)
A surprise name, but Pepe Reina remains a very well paid player despite being a backup at new club Bayern Munich after losing his place in the Liverpool side.
5) Joe Hart (Manchester City, £4.68m)
Currently fifth on this list, Manchester City’s Joe Hart is undoubtedly a star of the game at the moment, but is he worth a new contract to go ahead of some of these big names?
4) Petr Cech (Chelsea, £5.2m)
Only a bench-warmer for Chelsea at the moment, but Petr Cech remains one of the best in the business and his contract reflects that after many years of great service at Stamford Bridge.
3) Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, £5.5m)
A goalkeeping legend, it is no surprise to see the most expensive goalkeeper signing of all time, Gianluigi Buffon, come as high as third on this list.
2) Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, £5.6m)
World class goalkeeper for Bayern Munich and Germany, Manuel Neuer has won it all in the last few years and is probably the best in the world in his position at the moment, earning a Ballon d’Or nomination as a fine reward for his heroics between the sticks.
1) Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, £6.3m)
Still the highest paid goalkeeper in the world for the moment, Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas may be somewhat past his best, but his big money is a fitting reward for a memorable career for club and country.