Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most Goals in 2025

Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most Goals in 2025

Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most Goals in 2025 – Discover which shot-stoppers had the toughest year between the posts in one of football’s most unpredictable seasons. From shaky defenses to relentless opposition attacks, these goalkeepers were constantly tested and often left exposed. While their job is to keep the ball out of the net, some found themselves overwhelmed by the volume and quality of chances they faced. Whether it was due to form, injuries, poor team organization, or simply facing elite-level strikers week after week, the numbers didn’t lie — these ten goalkeepers conceded the most goals across domestic and international competitions.

In this in-depth countdown, we break down each keeper’s season, reviewing their match stats, team context, and key moments that shaped their year. Some put in heroic performances despite the goals conceded, while others struggled to find consistency. This list goes beyond the surface and looks at the full story behind the goals – was it all the goalkeeper’s fault, or were they let down by those in front of them? Explore the data, the drama, and the decisions that led to their inclusion in the Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most Goals in 2025.

10. Michele Di Gregorio – Monza (Serie A)

Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most

Michele Di Gregorio had a demanding season between the posts for Monza during the 2024–25 Serie A campaign. As one of the most frequently tested goalkeepers in Italy’s top flight, he found himself under relentless pressure in a team that often struggled to maintain defensive structure. Monza’s backline had moments of cohesion, but overall, it lacked consistency, especially against stronger sides that exploited gaps and forced Di Gregorio into high-action games almost every week.

Despite conceding around 55 goals, Di Gregorio had several standout performances that showcased his shot-stopping ability and reflexes. However, his efforts were often overshadowed by the defensive frailties in front of him. He was rarely at fault for the sheer volume of goals conceded, as many came from defensive errors, set-piece lapses, or counters where he was left exposed. His save percentage hovered near the league average, indicating a balanced season personally despite the numbers.

Monza’s mid-table finish kept them clear of relegation worries, but it came at a cost for their goalkeeper, who ended up among the most overworked in Serie A. While the stats might suggest a poor season, those who watched Monza regularly know Di Gregorio was often their most reliable performer in difficult matches.

9. Daniel Iversen – Leicester City (Championship / England)

Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most

Daniel Iversen endured a testing 2024–25 campaign with Leicester City, who spent much of the season fighting for promotion after relegation from the Premier League. While Leicester managed to stay competitive in the Championship, their defensive record was far from ideal. Iversen, often the first-choice keeper, bore the brunt of the pressure as the Foxes leaked around 60 goals across league and cup competitions.

The Danish shot-stopper had moments of brilliance, pulling off crucial saves in tight encounters, but he also struggled with consistency, particularly when Leicester faced teams that pressed high and forced defensive mistakes. Set-piece vulnerabilities and counter-attacks plagued the team, and Iversen was frequently left to face one-on-one situations. Despite the goals conceded, he maintained a strong presence in the box and showed leadership from the back, something that helped Leicester maintain playoff hopes.

In some matches, Iversen’s efforts kept Leicester from disaster. But over the course of the season, a lack of cohesion in the backline and poor defensive positioning led to his high goals-against total. His statistics don’t paint the full picture of his season — he was let down by a defense still adjusting after relegation. His season may have been frustrating, but his performances were key to Leicester’s resilience.

8. Noah Atubolu – SC Freiburg (Bundesliga)

Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most

Noah Atubolu found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons during SC Freiburg’s 2024–25 Bundesliga campaign. The young German goalkeeper, known for his potential and shot-stopping reflexes, faced a turbulent season behind a defensive line that struggled to maintain structure and composure. Freiburg, traditionally known for their well-drilled defensive units, encountered a dip in form that exposed Atubolu to a high volume of shots and dangerous attacking transitions.

Despite conceding 60 goals over the season, Atubolu displayed flashes of brilliance. He made several key saves that helped Freiburg secure crucial points, especially in matches where the defense crumbled early. His agility and ability to deal with close-range shots often kept the scorelines more respectable than they could have been. However, the sheer volume of defensive errors in front of him—especially from set pieces and during second-half lapses—meant he was left facing more chances than most Bundesliga goalkeepers.

Atubolu’s performances drew mixed reviews. While some criticized the number of goals conceded, others pointed to the underlying numbers that showed Freiburg’s expected goals against (xGA) was one of the highest in the league. Given the context, Atubolu handled the pressure admirably and remains a promising figure for both club and country.

7. Alphonse Areola – West Ham United (Premier League)

Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most

Alphonse Areola’s season with West Ham United was a rollercoaster of performances, defensive breakdowns, and moments of sheer brilliance. Trusted as the Hammers’ number one for most of the 2024–25 campaign, Areola faced immense pressure as West Ham’s backline faltered repeatedly. The team conceded numerous goals due to tactical inconsistencies and positional lapses, and Areola was left trying to keep damage to a minimum.

Statistically, Areola ended the season with one of the lowest “goals prevented” ratings in the Premier League. He underperformed his expected goals on target (xGOT) by approximately 3.5 goals, meaning he conceded significantly more than the average keeper might have from the same shots. However, he was also one of the most worked keepers in the league, facing a high number of shots, many from inside the penalty box where he was often left exposed.

Despite the goals conceded, Areola had matches where he kept West Ham in the fight. His shot-stopping reflexes and command of the penalty area were on full display, especially in tight fixtures. Unfortunately, the sheer frequency of defensive breakdowns proved too much over the course of the season. His overall numbers suffered, but Areola’s individual effort remained evident throughout.

6. Bernd Leno – Fulham (Premier League)

Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most

Bernd Leno had a demanding campaign with Fulham, serving as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper in a season riddled with defensive instability. Though Leno is highly regarded for his experience and positioning, he couldn’t prevent Fulham from slipping into the group of Premier League teams with the worst defensive records. Conceding nearly 50 goals, Leno was regularly overwhelmed by the number of shots on target faced due to Fulham’s open style of play and occasional lack of midfield support.

Throughout the season, Leno pulled off some impressive saves, particularly in close games where his shot-stopping instincts helped Fulham avoid complete collapse. However, the team’s inability to track runners, defend set pieces, and hold shape under pressure led to frequent high-quality scoring chances for opponents. His “goals prevented” metric hovered around –3.2, suggesting that he allowed more than what was expected statistically — a tough blow for a keeper of his calibre.

Leno’s season highlighted how even a technically sound goalkeeper can suffer under constant pressure. While he was not always directly at fault, the volume and quality of chances he faced overwhelmed him. Despite this, Leno’s leadership and vocal presence remained vital for Fulham during challenging stretches of their season.

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5. Arijanet Muric – Burnley (Premier League)

Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most

Arijanet Muric spent the 2024–25 Premier League season under the constant spotlight as Burnley’s defensive anchor in an uphill battle against relegation. Known for his size and shot-stopping abilities, Muric found himself repeatedly tested by the league’s most clinical attackers. Burnley’s high-risk, possession-based system often left Muric vulnerable, especially during transitions, where the defense was caught too far upfield or out of shape.

Muric’s overall season was marked by inconsistency. While he showed potential with several key saves and a solid command of aerial duels, his positioning and reaction times were exposed when facing top-tier opposition. According to post-shot xG (expected goals), Muric ranked among the lowest in the league, with a negative goals-prevented rate. Adding to his struggles, he also had the lowest WhoScored rating among starting goalkeepers.

Despite the heavy goals-against record, Muric was often Burnley’s last line of defense, and many of the goals came from situations where he had little chance to intervene. Burnley’s leaky defense and tactical overcommitment left Muric exposed more than any other keeper outside the bottom three. The numbers may paint a bleak picture, but they also highlight the tough environment he faced throughout a frustrating season.

4. José Sá – Wolves (Premier League)

Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most

José Sá had a difficult campaign for Wolves in the 2024–25 season, as the Midlands club failed to replicate the solid defensive foundation they had built in previous years. Sá found himself frequently under pressure as Wolves struggled with structure, individual errors, and a lack of coordination in their backline. Over the course of the season, he conceded over 50 goals and consistently underperformed compared to expected metrics.

Sá’s “goals prevented” stat — a key advanced metric that evaluates how many goals a keeper stopped compared to the average — was around –3.0, placing him among the worst in the Premier League in that category. While Sá made several high-profile saves during the season, particularly in close contests, these moments were overshadowed by frequent lapses in concentration and distribution mistakes.

Criticism mounted as Wolves fell down the table, with many pointing to Sá’s regression from his stellar form in earlier seasons. However, much of the blame also falls on a defense that offered little protection. Sá was often left to face one-on-one scenarios or clean shots from inside the box. His performances may not have met expectations, but his workload and the defensive instability in front of him played a major role in his bloated goals-against tally.

3. Bart Verbruggen – Brighton (Premier League)

Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most

Bart Verbruggen endured a punishing 2024–25 season as Brighton’s number one. Tasked with maintaining the club’s possession-heavy approach under pressure, Verbruggen was forced into action repeatedly due to Brighton’s leaky defense. His goals conceded total reached 50, and he recorded the worst expected goals on target minus goals allowed (xGOT differential) in the Premier League — meaning he let in 5.3 more goals than expected based on shot quality.

Despite his talent, Verbruggen struggled with handling high balls and long-range shots, areas where opponents frequently targeted him. Brighton’s defensive line, which was often deployed high up the pitch, left large spaces behind for quick transitions — making Verbruggen’s job significantly harder. He had some solid performances, but overall, the volume of high-danger chances faced made it nearly impossible to keep the goals down.

The season served as a steep learning curve for the Dutch international. While his ball distribution and comfort with the ball at his feet were often praised, his primary task — preventing goals — proved more challenging than anticipated. With a young core in front of him and a risky tactical setup, Verbruggen’s development will depend on whether Brighton can restore their once-solid defensive foundation in future campaigns.

2. Aaron Ramsdale – Southampton (All English Competitions)

Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most

Aaron Ramsdale, after moving to Southampton in a surprising mid-season deal, found himself in a uniquely challenging position. Playing across the Championship, FA Cup, and League Cup, Ramsdale featured regularly for a side that was attempting to stabilize after Premier League relegation. Despite his Premier League pedigree, Ramsdale conceded 66 goals across all competitions — a staggering number that put him among the top for goals conceded in English football.

Many of Ramsdale’s goals against came from defensive errors, poor marking, and open-play lapses — issues that Southampton failed to address throughout the campaign. His shot-stopping numbers were below expectations, and he failed to recapture the form that once made him England’s rising keeper. While his experience and communication were clear assets, the volume of chances he faced, especially in the Championship’s fast-paced, physical style, made his life incredibly difficult.

Critics questioned whether Ramsdale was the right fit for a team undergoing defensive rebuilds, but others noted he was often one of the few voices trying to organize a scattered backline. His reputation took a hit, but the context behind the stats suggests a season that was more about circumstance than personal decline.

1. Gautier Larsonneur – Saint-Étienne (Ligue 1)

Top 10 Goalkeepers Who Conceded the Most

Gautier Larsonneur had the unenviable distinction of conceding the most goals across Europe’s Top 5 leagues in the 2024–25 season. Saint-Étienne’s return to Ligue 1 was nothing short of chaotic, with Larsonneur left exposed almost every match due to a paper-thin defense and a midfield incapable of shielding the backline. He conceded 77 goals, more than any other goalkeeper at the top level.

To his credit, Larsonneur rarely looked overwhelmed. Despite the record total, he made numerous saves in games that could’ve been far worse for the French club. However, the defensive chaos around him made maintaining consistency nearly impossible. Opponents found it easy to penetrate Saint-Étienne’s flanks and carve through the middle, leaving Larsonneur facing more shots on target than most keepers in the league.

Statistically, he ranked low in goals prevented, but deeper analysis shows how many of the goals were from high-quality chances. He faced the highest number of expected goals against (xGA) in Ligue 1, confirming he wasn’t simply underperforming — he was drowning in pressure. While the numbers look grim, they may also highlight just how much worse things could have been without him between the posts.

FAQ’s:

Why do some goalkeepers concede more goals than others?

Several factors influence how many goals a goalkeeper concedes. It’s not always about the keeper’s skill alone. The strength and organization of the defense, the team’s playing style, and the quality of the opposition all play major roles. A goalkeeper behind a weak or disorganized defense will face more shots and higher-quality chances, often leading to more goals conceded.

Does conceding many goals mean the goalkeeper is performing poorly?

Not necessarily. High goals conceded can reflect the entire team’s defensive problems rather than just the goalkeeper’s performance. Advanced stats like “goals prevented” and expected goals against (xGA) help evaluate a keeper’s actual impact. Some keepers face an overwhelming number of difficult saves and still perform well individually despite high concession totals.

How can goalkeepers improve to reduce the number of goals conceded?

Goalkeepers can improve through better positioning, communication with defenders, decision-making on when to come off their line, and shot-stopping skills. However, reducing goals conceded also depends on the entire defensive unit functioning well together. Teams with strong defensive tactics and midfield support usually help goalkeepers concede fewer goals.

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