The top goalkeeper news stories from 21st September to 28th September 2025.
Header image: Goal via AFP via Getty Images
Gianluigi Donnarumma wins the Yashin Trophy
At this year’s 69th Ballon D’or ceremony last Monday night, everyone at Goalkeeper.com had their eyes on one prize in particular. Not long after the ceremony began, it was time for the Yashin Trophy to be awarded and there were some phenomenal candidates who had the opportunity to be crowned the best goalkeeper of the year.
Nominees included David Raya, Alisson, Thibaut Courtois, and the main man, the Champions League winner, and now a Citizen, Gianluigi Donnarumma. The name of the winner was slowly revealed out of the envelope and the name ‘Gianluigi Donnarumma’ was read out to the audience, met with rapturous applause. It has been agreed by most on social media that the Italian was the deserved winner of the trophy after stellar season, especially in PSG’s Champions League winning campaign.
Hannah Hampton named best women's goalkeeper
Gigi Donnarumma was joined in goalkeeping plaudits by England women's number one Hannah Hampton, who picked up the women's Yashin Trophy for 2025. Hampton has had an unbelievable year, helping England to their EUROs win earlier in the summer with a string of penalty saves and an eye-catching assist in an earlier round.
The Chelsea goalkeeper has cemented herself amongst the world's best, and spoke emotively about the meaning of the award.
'‘I’d like to say a massive thank you to France Football for this award,’ began Hampton. ‘I don't think it's an achievement for me, I think it's an achievement for women's goalkeeping that the award is finally now taking part.
'I stand on the shoulders of so many great goalkeepers of the past, sitting alone with my fellow nominees. It's an honour to be a part of such an incredible group and the aspiring keepers of the future generation coming through and training so hard.'
Barcelona goalkeeper suffers bad injury news
New Barcelona number one Joan Garcia has has impressed in a variety of La Liga games so far and also started in the Spanish side's Champions League win at St James Park against Newcastle. However, Garcia recently had to undergo surgery on his knee as Hansi Flick referred to the Spaniard’s injury as ‘not good news’.
After a bright start, Garcia is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks, by which point Marc-Andre ter Stegen is expected to return to match fitness. Fortunately for Flick, he is blessed with depth all across the pitch as his third-choice goalkeeper, and now starter, is Wojciech Szczesny. Get well soon, Joan Garcia.
Potter's West Ham departure sees goalkeeper coaches' short tenure end
Graham Potter's time as West Ham manager came to an end over the weekend, with Nuno Espirito Santo the new man at the helm at the London Stadium. Potter's sacking saw goalkeeper coaches Casper Ankergren and Linus Kandolin leave the club alongside the manager that brought them in.
Ankergren and Kandolin had only joined West Ham this summer in a goalkeeper department transformation which saw coach Xavi Valero leave for Liverpool and Mads Hermansen join between the sticks. In recent weeks, Lukasz Fabianski also returned to the club to shore things up following a shaky start to the season (in all areas) for West Ham.
The Hammers currently sit second bottom in the Premier League table, and will need to rebuild on the goalkeeper front only weeks into the new season.
Kelleher penalty save proves vital in another Manchester United loss
The early Premier League kick-off on Saturday saw Manchester United travel to the Gtech Stadium in what felt like a must win for Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils despite their marginal win, a week prior, against Chelsea. In the 76th minute, United won a penalty at 2-1 down. Up stepped the usual taker, Bruno Fernandes, and after VAR approved the referee’s initial decision, the ball was placed on the spot.
Deep breaths were taken all around the stadium and the Portuguese midfield maestro pulled the trigger, but Caoimhin Kelleher was there to deny him in the bottom right corner. The Irishman’s penalty save was instrumental in the story of the final scoreline, as the Bees were buzzing after a dazzling 3-1 win. Kellher has now saved three of the last five penalties he's faced in club football.
Darlow continues to start for Leeds as they gain another point
Since gameweek four, Karl Darlow has been Leeds new number one and he started again this week against Bournemouth, after a brilliant 3-1 win at Wolves last weekend. Leeds gained an impressive point in a 2-2 drew against an in-form Bournemouth side and some Leeds fans feel Darlow is their best goalkeeper at the club. At this moment in time, with new man Lucas Perri still out with injury, it's not impossible that the role remains his.
