The outfield players do all the running and will be the ones that control and decide the game. The 11th spot on the team is reserved for the goalkeeper, who although doesn’t need to do the running work, still has one of the biggest responsibilities. These guys have to remain alert for the full game and any error can be hugely costly. So, Let’s check out who are the 10 best young Goalkeepers in Soccer Manager 2022.
We’ve compiled a list of the 10 best young goalkeepers all aged under 25. These are the top long-term investments that should fix up the GK slot for many seasons to come. The potential options are endless and so there is a further list of honorable mentions at the bottom of the page.
Note: As the game may be regularly updated throughout the season, the ratings are subject to change and so the images below may not be consistent all year.
Soccer Manager 2022: 10 Best Young Goalkeepers
1. Gianluigi Donnaruma (AC Milan)
Donnaruma’s two penalty saves in the final shootout made the difference which won Italy the Euros 2020 trophy. Yet another achievement to add to Donnaruma’s long list, alongside his 33 caps for his nation, the Euros 2020 Player of the Tournament award, and the new, prestigious Yashin Award. From reading all this, it’s difficult to comprehend how Donnaruma is just 22 years old. Especially for a goalkeeper, this is ridiculous. He’s already one of the best keepers in the world and is extensively far from his prime years. There’s no doubt, this would be the perfect signing for any club, solving the goalkeeper issues for a long time.
2. Andre Onana (Ajax)
Onana was enjoying the dream start to any goalkeeper’s career a couple of seasons ago. Surrounded by some of the best talents of the next generation, Onana played a key role in Ajax’s youth set-up in the famous UCL run. However, unfortunately, the Cameroonian hit a hefty obstacle after being suspended due to a suspected doping scandal. As a result, he is now on the lookout for a new club to play football once again, with his suspension nearing its end. At 25 years of age, Onana fits the modern-day profile of a goalkeeper perfectly, with his agility and composure on the ball.
3. Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao)
Simon came under the spotlight on the big stage last Summer after he was given the nod over his competition in the Euros 2020. At just 24 years old, the Spaniard is a key player for both club and country, keeping 33 clean sheets in 109 games for Athletic Bilbao. He’s quick to save, composed on the ball, and mature enough to play for many top European clubs in the world. There’s a long road of improvement for Simon, and he’d be a great long-term signing in SM22.
4. Dean Henderson (Manchester United)
Coming up from the United youth system, Henderson is looked upon as the Red Devils’ future star between the sticks. A couple of loan moves helped the Englishman realize his potential, notably the seasons at Sheffield United in the Premier League. All Henderson needs now is consistent first-team football and he could very well be in line for the race to be the England National Team’s number 1 as well.
5. Alex Meret (Napoli)
Starting out in the Udinese youth teams, Meret quickly joined the first team 2014/15 season and a loan move to SPAL played a key role in attracting major interest. In the 2018/19 season, Italian giants Napoli came knocking to express their interest in Meret, who was just about 20/21 years old at the time. They took him on a loan initially, and the transfer was then made permanent in the 2019/20 season – a fee of around £23 million. Fast forward to the present time, Meret is the starting goalkeeper for one of the best clubs in Italy, and one of the top reputed in Europe.
6. Alban Lafont (FC Nantes)
Lafont entered the world of football via Toulouse in France. After 3 seasons with the French outlet, the Frenchman shifted across borders to Italy at Fiorentina. However, the move didn’t work out too well, and a season later, Lafont was loaned out back to France with FC Nantes. The move was made permanent just in 2021/22, where he is now the main number 1. His huge height and quick reflexes help him adapt to football naturally.
7. Illan Meslier (Leeds United)
A Lorient youth prospect, Meslier landed in Leeds at just 18/19 years old and was a part of the squad which gained promotion to the Premier League ahead of the 2020/21 season. In his first season in England, the Frenchman managed 10 games but kept 7 clean sheets out of them in the Championship which is quite a respectable record. Even in the top flight, Meslier has still stood strong, currently ranking top for the most saves this season as so far as well. On top of that, he’s currently just 21!
8. Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Ramsdale raised eyebrows when he moved across England to join Arsenal in the 2021/22 Summer transfer window. What was even more surprising, was the fee involved, equating to around £25 million. The 23-year-old hadn’t had the best track record prior to the move either. In 2 seasons in the Premier League, Ramsdale had been the starter for two different teams and unfortunately suffered back-to-back relegation with both those teams. Clearly, the Arsenal management saw something in the Englishman, who is now the first choice for the Gunners. Ramsdale’s quality shot-stopping and accurate distribution make him one of the best keepers in the league right now.
9. Bartlomiej Dragowski (ACF Fiorentina)
Likely a name most football fans have heard less about, Dragowski is rated as one of the top young goalkeepers in the game, with an overall of 76. He started his career in Poland before quickly moving abroad to Italy in the 2016/17 season, where Fiorentina paid a fee of just over £2 million. After a loan move to Empoli, Dragowski became the preferred starter for the Italian outlet. However, injuries have hampered Dragowski’s progress this season so far.
10. Maarten Vandevoordt (KRC Genk)
The youngest goalkeeper on this list is Maarten Vandervoordt, coming in at just 19 years of age. He’s worked hard in recent years and has climbed up the youth ranks to now be a starter for Belgian club KRC Genk. Despite being at such a young age, Vandervoordt has even made appearances on the big stage in the UEFA Champions League as well. He became the youngest keeper in the competition to start as well when he was just 17 years old. There’s no doubt about it, some big clubs will definitely come knocking for the Belgian’s signature in no time.
Other Best Young Goalkeepers in Soccer Manager 2022
What you see above is merely just the tip of the iceberg. SM22 has a huge database of quality youth goalkeepers, and a list of the top 10 would not do the rest justice. Below is a table of yet more under 25s that are all talented editions to any squad, and have a high potential to build towards in the future.
| Name | Club | Overall Rating | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Nubel | AS Monaco (Loan from Bayern Munich) | 77 | 16.5 million |
| Emil Audero | Sampdoria | 76 | 18 million |
| Predrag Rajkovic | Stade De Reims | 75 | 13 million |
| Gregor Kobel | Borussia Dortmund | 75 | 15.5 million |
| Andrey Lunin | Real Madrid | 68 | 10.5 million |
| Robert Sanchez | Brighton and Hove Albion | 70 | 9.75 million |
Note: All values and data were taken close to the release of the game, and are subject to change throughout the season. The numbers in the table may not match exactly with those in the game.
Did you find our guide on the best young goalkeepers of Soccer Manager 2022 helpful? Do let us know in the comments section below!
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