Top 10 Most Expensive Chelsea Goalkeepers of All Time

With success and money can sometimes come a perception of throwing cash around in the hopes of achieving lofty goals. This can be proven to many when you pay a world-record fee for a player who ultimately falls short of expectations. In this, we will be looking at the ten most expensive Chelsea goalkeepers of all time to see if they really do throw money at each position in order to succeed.

10 Most Expensive Chelsea Goalkeepers Ever

1. Kepa Arrizabalaga – £71.6 Million

To this day, the Spaniard boasts the highest transfer fee ever paid for a shot-stopper. The move from Athletic Bilbao saw his release clause triggered following the departure of Thibaut Courtois, and since then, Kepa Arrizabalaga has had a mixed career but certainly not a disastrous one.

He has been dropped and lost his number one spot multiple times, even on loan at Real Madrid where he lost out to Andriy Lunin, but he’s carved out a strong place for himself at Bournemouth most recently.

As he nears a total of 400 appearances in top-level football he also has a number of medals in his drawer as a two-time Champions League winner, Europa League winner, La Liga winner, Clup World Cup winner, and more.

2. Edouard Mendy – £22 Million

A shockingly big drop into the 20s for the second most expensive Chelsea goalkeeper ever. Mendy had a shorter stint with the Blues but was an award-winning shot-stopper as they won the Champions League with him between the sticks.

He was possibly a one-season wonder but what a season it was, he looked almost impervious under Thomas Tuchel and didn’t look half bad when competing for the number one spot under Graham Potter. His swift departure for Saudi Arabia does leave him out in the cold but for the fee the club paid, he more than repaid it by helping them on their way to a second UCL win.

3. Robert Sanchez £20-25 Million

Possibly splitting hairs on this one as Sanchez was routinely advertised as a £25 million move but £5 million were add-ons which may never be paid. The former Brighton & Hove Albion has been another mixed signing between the sticks for the club. He was dropped halfway through the season under Mauricio Pochettino for Djordje Petrovic and granted a second chance at life by Enzo Maresca.

He was also dropped eventually by Maresca after a number of errors leading to goals, something he was leading the five major European leagues in at one point. He ended the season back as the number one choice and looked solid as the squad went on to claim top four and the Europa Conference League.

4. Filip Jorgensen – £20 Million

Another £20 million man and another from Spain. Jorgensen joined from Villarreal after leading La Liga in saves made for a campaign. He spent most of his debut term as the second option behind number three on our list but did play routinely in European competitions and cups.

He hasn’t set the world ablaze but looks very composed on the ball, something which is valued by his current manager and should keep him knocking on the door for as long as he’s in the squad.

5. Mike Penders – £17 Million

While it’s difficult to nail down a number for the young Belgian, BBC Sports puts him at a cool £17 million to join from KAA Gent. Penders is only 19 and still developing but has shown some ability to break into the senior Gent squad after being in their youth setup while on loan.

6. Djordje Petrovic – £12.5 – 14 Million

Signed from the MLS as part of Clearlake Capital’s data and youth drive, Petrovic unseated Sanchez as the first-choice goalkeeper under Mauricio Pochettino. He was rather surprisingly rewarded for that by being sent on loan to Strasbourg, where he had a very strong season.

As he returns to the Chelsea setup he will understandably have eyes on the top spot and could prove to be a bargain if given the chance. Even if not, he’s certainly been a shrewd signing that could net them a profit after one-and-a-half seaosns of proof that he’s a reliable shot-stopper.

7. Gaga Slonina – (roughly) £8.1 Million

Again, an arguable value as Gaga (Gabriel) Slonina was reported in dollars to have cost $10 million, possibly rising up to $15 million with add-ons. As we’re working in Pounds this converts to an estimated £8.1 million up front, with the add-ons being a mystery as to whether they’ve been triggered or not.

Things haven’t really worked out for the former Chicago Fire man. He’s had a string of loans first being officially loaned by to the MLS as part of the transfer, then he was with Eupen, and most recently he was in League One with Barnsley who finished mid-table as he shipped 61 goals despite keeping 16 clean sheets. He’s largely been passed over for newer, better prospects.

8. Asmir Begovic – £8 Million

A rather surprising one, Asmir Begovic joined the Blues in 2015 from Stoke, making the step up to a big club. He only made sporadic appearances for the first team and largely stepped in when needed if the first-choice goalkeeper was injured. He didn’t cover himself in glory and was sent on his way after barely playing in 2016/17 when he made the move to Bournemouth.

9. Thibaut Courtois – £7.9 Million

A slightly contentious ranking as the fee for the Belgian was reported as a maximum of £7.9 million but that’s the best information on hand. The now Real Madrid man first proved himself on loan with their rivals Atletico Madrid before being trusted to take over at Chelsea from a club legend.

The Belgium international more than earned his fee and eventual major move to Spain as he put in some impressive displays in his short time as the main man between the sticks for the Blues, helping them on their way to two Premier League titles

10. Petr Cech – £7 Million

A measly seven million pounds was the outlay for the man who would go on to become arguably the greatest goalkeeper in club history. Cech’s record speaks for itself: the wall of a team that let in just 15 goals in a 38 game Premier League season, four of the top five most clean sheets in a single campaign for the Blues, and one of the most decorated players to ever step onto the field for the team.