Premier League Goalkeeper Rankings 2026/27: Trafford Beats Raya

James Trafford leads Premier League goalkeeper rankings as David Raya settles for third

Leeds United's James Trafford has been ranked the Premier League's best goalkeeper across the opening eight matches of 2026/27, edging Arsenal's David Raya despite the Spaniard conceding fewer goals. The ranking weighs save percentage, saves made, goals conceded, clean sheets, penalties saved and the protection each keeper receives.

Top ranked: James Trafford, Leeds United — 83.3 per cent save rate, 30 saves, six goals conceded
Second: David Raya, Arsenal — five goals conceded, five clean sheets, 78.3 per cent save rate
Methodology: Eight league matches, minimum 600 minutes played, workload-adjusted
Golden Glove tie: Raya and Brighton's Bart Verbruggen both on five clean sheets
Bottom of the nine: Alisson Becker of Liverpool, on a 68 per cent save rate

The numbers

9. Alisson Becker, Liverpool: eight appearances, 17 saves, eight goals conceded, four clean sheets, 68 per cent save rate
8. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Manchester City: eight appearances, 21 saves, nine goals conceded, three clean sheets, 70 per cent save rate
7. Jordan Pickford, Everton: eight appearances, 23 saves, nine goals conceded, three clean sheets, 71.9 per cent save rate, nine punches
6. Zion Suzuki, Aston Villa: seven appearances, 25 saves, eight goals conceded, two clean sheets, 75.8 per cent save rate, 3.57 saves per 90
5. Caoimhín Kelleher, Brentford: eight appearances, 26 saves, nine goals conceded, two clean sheets, 74.3 per cent save rate
4. Bart Verbruggen, Brighton & Hove Albion: eight appearances, 19 saves, seven goals conceded, five clean sheets, 73.1 per cent save rate, 445 minutes without conceding
3. David Raya, Arsenal: eight appearances, 18 saves, five goals conceded, five clean sheets, 78.3 per cent save rate, one penalty saved
2. James Trafford, Leeds United: eight appearances, 30 saves, six goals conceded, three clean sheets, 83.3 per cent save rate, 3.75 saves per match

Why Trafford's workload beats Raya's clean sheets

David Raya has conceded fewer goals than any regular starter in the division — five in eight matches, an average of 0.63 per 90. He has kept five clean sheets and saved 18 of 23 shots on target, and he has saved a penalty. Arsenal are the only side with a perfect penalty save record, having faced one spot kick and conceded none.

But Raya's workload is light. James Trafford has faced 13 more shots on target, and Konstantinos Tzolakis has faced 15 more. Raya plays behind a defence that restricts both the quantity and quality of chances, so his numbers are shaped as much by Arsenal's structure as his own shot-stopping.

Trafford faced 36 shots on target and conceded only six, a combination of high workload and low goals against that separates him from the rest. His 83.3 per cent save rate is the highest among established starters, and he is making 3.75 saves per match while conceding 0.75 goals per game. Raya has conceded one fewer goal, but on a fraction of the pressure.

What the mid-table tells us about protection

Bart Verbruggen sits fourth, level with Raya on five clean sheets. He produced four consecutive shutouts and went 445 Premier League minutes without conceding, a 62.5 per cent clean-sheet rate. His 73.1 per cent save rate is strong but below Trafford and Tzolakis. What lifts him is his wider role — Brighton ask him to receive difficult passes and invite pressure to progress possession.

Caoimhín Kelleher is fifth with 26 saves from 35 shots on target and a 74.3 per cent rate, comfortably above average given only five regular starters have faced more shots. Zion Suzuki ranks sixth on a 75.8 per cent save rate, second only to Trafford and Tzolakis among heavily worked keepers, but seven appearances prevent him from going higher.

Jordan Pickford is seventh on 71.9 per cent, with 23 saves from 32 shots and nine punches — the highest total in the division. Gianluigi Donnarumma is eighth on 70 per cent, having stopped 21 of 30 shots on target, his concentration tested by long spells of City possession. Alisson Becker is ninth on 68 per cent, with four clean sheets and 17 saves, still structurally important but short of his usual elite shot-stopping.

Talking points

Raya has conceded the fewest goals in the league yet ranks third — should shot-stopping volume outweigh clean sheets in a keeper ranking?
Trafford's 36 shots faced versus Raya's 23 shows how much of goalkeeping statistics is really a measure of the defence in front of them.
Suzuki's 3.57 saves per 90 is outstanding, but seven appearances is a small sample — is a top-six placing premature?
Alisson at ninth feels harsh for a keeper with four clean sheets, but on current-season numbers the ranking is defensible.

What happens next

The next round of Premier League fixtures will test whether Trafford can sustain an 83.3 per cent save rate under Leeds' heavy workload, and whether Raya's clean-sheet lead holds as Arsenal's fixture difficulty rises. Suzuki's push for a higher ranking depends on turning seven appearances into a full season of evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League in 2026/27?

James Trafford of Leeds United tops this ranking, with an 83.3 per cent save rate, 30 saves and six goals conceded from eight appearances.

How many clean sheets does David Raya have this season?

Raya has five clean sheets in eight matches, level with Bart Verbruggen at the top of the early Golden Glove race.

Why is Alisson ranked ninth?

Alisson has a 68 per cent save rate, which the ranking treats as ordinary by his standards, with 17 saves and eight goals conceded in eight appearances.