Pickford

Who Should Guard England's Goal? Every Keeper Ranked and Rated

There's a legendary Nike commercial that showcases Paolo Maldini with the memorable slogan: "Italy's Goalkeeper: Easiest Job in Europe."

Sadly for England, they lack Maldini organizing their backline, making their goalkeeper selection critically important.

Jordan Pickford has consistently been Gareth Southgate's preferred choice as the nation's top keeper, but with the former Three Lions manager's exit and Thomas Tuchel's appointment as the new Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss, things could shift for the Everton shot-stopper.

Here, Sports Illustrated evaluates England's current goalkeeper candidates.

9. Jason Steele

Jason Steele likely won't represent England, but he remains a potential option.

Jason Steele emerged as an unexpected standout for Brighton during the 2022–23 season, taking over from Robert Sánchez midway through the campaign.

The former England Under-21 keeper excelled under Roberto De Zerbi and rotated with Bart Verbruggen in 2024–25. Nevertheless, he's now clearly the backup choice under Fabian Hürzeler.

8. Alex Palmer

Alex Palmer moved to Ipswich in January.

Former West Bromwich Albion keeper Alex Palmer transferred to Premier League club Ipswich Town in January 2025 and quickly made his mark with an impressive display at Villa Park.

Nevertheless, Ipswich's relegation will work against him as he seeks to enter Tuchel's considerations—despite being among the Tractor Boys' standout players during the latter half of the 2024–25 season.

7. Sam Johnstone

Sam Johnstone possesses several England appearances.

Following his departure from Crystal Palace in summer 2024—after losing his starting position to Dean Henderson, partly due to injury—Sam Johnstone has found it difficult to establish himself at his new team, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

During 2024–25, he managed only seven Premier League starts, primarily serving as backup to José Sá under Vítor Pereira's management.

Though he's unlikely to top Tuchel's priority list, his prior England experience and solid Premier League background ensure that, provided he remains in the top division, he'll stay in consideration.

6. Jack Butland

Previously considered England's future goalkeeper solution, Jack Butland accumulated nine international appearances before his club career faded into relative anonymity.

Nevertheless, his transfer to Rangers has revitalized his performances. He recorded over 20 clean sheets during the 2023–24 season, followed by 14 additional shutouts the following year—despite missing time due to injury.

If he had delivered those statistics in the Premier League, he'd probably be in stronger contention. Currently, his international prospects remain a long shot—but his revival at Ibrox has at least maintained some possibility.

5. Aaron Ramsdale

Aaron Ramsdale's ability is undeniable, but his career transfers haven't served him well thus far.

He's experienced Premier League relegation three times with different teams—Bournemouth in 2019–20, Sheffield United in 2020–21, and most recently, Southampton in 2024–25. It's a troubling pattern that, while not solely his responsibility, overshadows his England prospects.

Nevertheless, a summer transfer to Newcastle for the 2025/26 season—where relegation appears highly improbable—could provide his ideal opportunity to regain contention. It's an opportunity to restore his reputation, similar to what he briefly achieved during his time at Arsenal.

4. Nick Pope

Nick Pope represents the goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale must compete against for the starting position at St. James' Park—and displacing him won't be simple.

Since arriving at Newcastle in 2022, Pope has delivered consistently strong performances. An outstanding and athletic shot-stopper, he's been instrumental in their consecutive Champions League qualifications and EFL Cup victory.

What might limit his serious England consideration, though, is his restricted ball-handling skills—something Tuchel will almost definitely prioritize when choosing his primary goalkeeper.

3. Dean Henderson

Following his permanent transfer to Crystal Palace in summer 2023, Dean Henderson faced a challenging beginning in London.

A severe thigh injury restricted his playing time initially, and he spent most of the 2023/24 season competing with Sam Johnstone for the starting role at Selhurst Park.

Nevertheless, Johnstone's injury problems and subsequent exit provided the former Manchester United goalkeeper a clear opportunity to become Palace's number one—and he's excelled ever since. Henderson delivered outstanding performances throughout the 2024/25 season, with his displays during the club's incredible FA Cup campaign being particularly noteworthy. He was exceptional at every stage, especially in the final, where Palace shocked Manchester City to claim the trophy.

2. James Trafford

James Trafford might not be England's starting goalkeeper currently, but he's definitely close—and almost certainly represents the Three Lions' future.

Why? First, his 2024–25 season with Burnley was absolutely remarkable. He achieved a record-setting 29 clean sheets across 45 Championship matches, allowing only 16 goals as the Clarets secured promotion.

Second, he's still in his early twenties—considerably younger than all other candidates on this ranking.

Third, he's now returned to his childhood club, Manchester City, as their new first-choice keeper. Working alongside Pep Guardiola, Premier League legend Ederson, and elite goalkeeping coaches Xabier Mancisidor and Richard Wright, Trafford appears destined for continued improvement.

1. Jordan Pickford

Jordan Pickford continues to divide England supporters, with the Everton keeper frequently criticized for occasional costly mistakes—most notably his late blunder in the Merseyside derby that gifted Divock Origi a victory.

Nevertheless, in recent years, Pickford has dramatically reduced those errors and evolved into a reliable and steady presence for both Everton and England.

He served as Gareth Southgate's unquestioned first choice and seldom disappointed the Three Lions during their journey to the Euro 2024 final.

Although Tuchel's arrival might alter the landscape, Pickford's status as England's primary goalkeeper seems stable—at least for the moment.