Many professional footballers would argue that their position is the most difficult and crucial on the field, and for goalkeepers, this may be true.
Few clubs have ever succeeded without a reliable goalie between the sticks; a dependable goalkeeper may contribute ten points to a season, make the difference between survival and relegation, and win the league or lose it.
The EFL Championship has produced several fantastic shot-stoppers over the years, including Emiliano Martinez, James Trafford, Jordan Picked, and David Raya, and without their time in the English second tier, they may not have been the players they are today.
The next generation of great goalkeepers could be playing in the division right now, according to Football League World, which has reviewed and attempted to rank the 11 best shot-stoppers now competing in the Championship.
11Federico Ravaglia – Watford
Federico Ravaglia, an Italian shot-stopper, moved from Serie A to Vicarage Road this summer to replace Egil Selvik in goal, marking his first move overseas.
The 26-year-old came up through the ranks at Bologna and went on to make 52 appearances in all competitions in Emilia-Romagna, including loan spells with Südtirol, AS Gubbio, Frosinone, and Reggina before joining Watford.
Ravaglia has impressed since moving to England, despite the Hornets’ troubles, and if he can continue to shine, his time in Hertfordshire will undoubtedly be brief.
10Jose Sa – Wolverhampton Wanderers
Jose Sa of Wolverhampton Wanderers now has the Championship’s most extensive pedigree, having made over 150 Premier League matches for the Old Gold, five caps for Portugal, and spells with FC Porto, Olympiacos, and Maritimo.
However, Wolves head coach Cesar Peixoto was not quite satisfied by his compatriot entering into this season, with Daniel Bentley starting in goal before moving on to Coventry City, and there were questions about whether Sam Johnstone would get the nod before joining Celtic.
The 33-year-old has yet to genuinely distinguish out in the Championship, and after losing his place in goal several times with Wolves, it is difficult to rate him much higher.
9Michael Cooper – Sheffield United
Michael Cooper rose through the ranks of Plymouth Argyle, establishing himself as the Pilgrims’ number one in the 2020/21 season and guiding the Devon-based club to the Championship in 2023 under Steven Schumacher.
The Englishman joined Sheffield United in the summer of 2024 and continued to excel; despite a difficult season in 2025/26, Cooper is one of the division’s greatest shot-stoppers.
Cooper, who has previously been linked with Everton and West Ham, will undoubtedly be critical to the Blades’ success this season.
8James Beadle – Birmingham City
James Beadle has gradually worked his way up the divisions. following progressing through the ranks at Charlton Athletic, the Englishman joined Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2022, and following loan spells with Crewe Alexandra, Oxford United, and Sheffield Wednesday, he joined Birmingham City on loan in the summer of 2025.
After impressing at St Andrews, Chris Davies’ side chose to bring the 22-year-old back to the Second City for another loan term; he is under contract with Brighton until at least 2030, and the Seagulls believe he has a promising future.
If he can keep up this pace, Beadle should be playing in the top flight sooner rather than later.
7Radek Vitek – Middlesbrough
Radek Vitek made his Championship debut last season after joining Bristol City on loan from Manchester United, when he replaced Max O’Leary in goal.
According to FotMob, only Coventry City’s Carl Rushworth (7.7) prevented more goals than Vitek (7.4) in the second division last season, as the 22-year-old piqued the interest.
His performances enticed Middlesbrough to part with a potential £14 million to bring the 22-year-old to the Riverside, and while he has struggled to replicate the form that prompted Borough to pay such a high amount, he is still definitely one of the finest in the division.
6Jacob Widell Zetterström – Derby County
Derby County’s Jacob Widell Zetterström has been largely considered as one of the Championship’s greatest goalkeepers since joining Pride Park from Swedish club Djurgarden in the summer of 2024.
The Swede recently represented his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in games against Japan and France, impressing in both and, presumably, attracting interest from elsewhere, including Italian club Monza over the summer.
Derby cannot afford to let Zetterstrom walk away for free in his final year with the Rams; it would be a major loss both on the field and financially. However, interest is expected to be high, and John Eustace’s team may have to face the consequences if they are unable to convince him to sign new terms quickly.
5Lawrence Vigouroux – Swansea City
Lawrence Vigouroux, a Chilean international, has had one of the most unusual careers to date, and if Swansea City can pull off the impossible, he might play Premier League football next season.
He began his career with Tottenham Hotspur and went on to play for Liverpool, Swindon Town, Waterford in Ireland, CD Everton in Chile, Leyton Orient, Burnley, and Swansea.
Vigouroux, one of the greatest ball-playing goalkeepers in the division, stands out from the crowd with his talent with his feet, which is critical in Swansea’s build-up play. The 32-year-old deserves to be at the top of this list.
4Daniel Peretz – Southampton
Daniel Peretz joined Southampton on loan from Bayern Munich in January 2026 to replace the failing Gavin Bazunu, which proved to be a wise option by Tonda Eckert and his team.
According to FotMob, the Israeli international blocked 6.54 goals for the Saints in the Championship from January to the end of the season, and was critical to their promotion to the play-offs before their eventual relegation.
Unsurprisingly, Southampton attempted to make the deal permanent for under £6.05 million in the summer, and while Peretz has yet to reach the heights of last season, he is still unquestionably one of the best in the division.
3Viktor Johansson – Stoke City
Viktor Johansson of Stoke City has been one of the top goalkeepers in the Championship for the previous five years, including at Rotherham United, when he frequently surpassed his projected goals against.
In Zetterstrom’s absence, the Swede has stepped up to become Sweden’s new number one, and few would argue that he deserves it.
According to FotMob, Johansson prevented the Potters from scoring an astonishing 15.82 goals during the 2024/25 Championship season; without him, Stoke would almost probably have been demoted that year.
Only a few players can claim to be better than the 28-year-old right now in terms of instilling confidence in his defence with his performances and personality.
2Pierce Charles – Queen’s Park Rangers
Despite Sheffield Wednesday’s troubles, Pierce Charles impressed and thrived when thrown into the deep end at such a young age.
Despite Wednesday’s defeat, his skills were recognised, and Manchester City signed a deal worth up to £10 million with the South Yorkshire club in the summer before sending him out on loan to Queens Park Rangers right away.
Charles’ 2026/27 Championship Statistics (via FotMob)
Stat
Total
Appearances
8
Clean sheets.
2
Goals conceded.
7
Goals were averted.
0.69
Save %.
72%
Charles has swiftly become a fan favourite for the West London club, with courageous displays on the international stage and away against West Ham United propelling him into the spotlight.
If he continues on this path, Charles will reach the Premier League sooner rather than later.
1Max O’Leary – West Bromwich Albion
Max O’Leary’s career trajectory in the last 12 months has been flawless.
The Irishman was Bristol City’s number one for three seasons between 2022 and 2025, but when Radek Vitek moved to Ashton Gate on loan last season, he found himself back on the bench.
In January 2026, West Bromwich Albion were facing a goalie crisis, with neither Joe Wildsmith nor Joshua Griffiths able to secure a spot in the team, so the Baggies signed O’Leary on a short-term deal.
The 30-year-old was instrumental in the club’s Championship survival last season and was expected to be rewarded with a new contract in the Black Country, and that belief has been vindicated.
According to FotMob, in only nine league games, as of October 13, 2026, ahead to West Brom’s trip to Wrexham, O’Leary has avoided a staggering 7.52 goals in the Championship, far and away the greatest record in the division.
long it took him a long to reach to this point, his form is too good to ignore, and he is currently the greatest goalie in the Championship.
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