Football
Premier League Safe Hands: Ranking the Goalkeepers with the Most All-Time Clean Sheets
We focus regularly on goalscorers, which means a reliable goalkeeper can be ignored or taken for granted in the high-octane Premier League. However, every glistening goal comes with a dazzling moment at the opposite end. An acrobatic save, a commanding catch, or a vital block to keep a clean sheet. The Premier League is famed for two things, its unpredictability and its attacking play, but a clean sheet is a badge of honour, a reward for the work the goalkeeper puts in and the discipline and organisation of the team in front of him. Only a handful of teams over the years have managed to keep the opposition at bay as regularly as this, which is why you will find their names written in the Premier League history books.
Petr Cech of Chelsea//Getty Images
What Is a Clean Sheet and Why Does It Matter?
When a team does not concede a goal during a match – it's a clean sheet! When it comes to keepers, the ilk of the clean sheet is the gold star – an easy-to-quantify metric of focus, coordination, and reaction.
Every week, top-class attackers from all over the world bombard keepers in the Premier League, so to amass clean sheets is not just an impressive feat, but the sign of an elite keeper. Goalkeepers with the most Premier League clean sheets represent a rare breed of durability and excellence.
So, who are the top PL goalkeepers of all-time when it comes to shutting teams out? Let's dive (excuse the pun) into the Premier League goalkeeper stats and reveal the safe hands that have defined generations.
Top Goalkeepers in Premier League Clean Sheet History
Looking at clean sheets in Premier League history, several names stand out for their extraordinary achievements in keeping opponents from scoring.
Petr Cech: The Undisputed King of Clean Sheets
- Clubs: Chelsea, Arsenal
- Premier League Appearances: 443
- Premier League Clean Sheets: 202
- Premier League Titles: 4
When you hear the name Petr Cech, you automatically think of goalkeeping excellence, he is synonymous with it, especially in the Premier League. Cech has kept 202 shutouts, more than any other player, making him the holder of the Premier League clean sheet record. He could not have made more of an impact in his first season at Chelsea (2004/05) where he kept a record 24 clean sheets in just 35 matches - a record for any single season which remains unbeaten to this day.
Despite having suffered with injuries at various points in his career, Cech has consistently proven reliable, and ultimately set an impressively fast, high benchmark of 100 clean sheets, in just 180 appearances, the fastest in league history.
It was not just the mere volume of Petr Cech's clean sheets record but the quality too. He let in a goal every 108 minutes on average - the best clean-sheet ratio PL of any goalkeeper with 200-plus appearances. The 162 clean sheets he kept for Chelsea mean that no keeper has more Premier League clean sheets for a single club.
In addition to his foundation in the Premier League, four titles, and four Golden Glove awards (tied with Joe Hart for the most in the competition's history), the true mark of the legacy of Cech comes from his international career.
David James: The Marathon Man
- Clubs: Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City, Portsmouth
- Premier League Appearances: 572
- Premier League Clean Sheets: 169
When it comes to David James, PL clean sheets came as second nature, and he is second on the all-time list with 169 clean sheets across a remarkable 18-year Premier League career. James, whose longevity and durability is legendary, has played in more Premier League games than any other goalkeeper. He played for five clubs, most notably Liverpool and Portsmouth.
James was a superb shot-stopper and was also known for his overall athleticism and he also holds the record for the most penalty saves in Premier League history (13). While never lifting the Premier League trophy, his level of consistency and professionalism saw him earn two PFA Team of the Year appearances and the title of one of the best goalkeepers in England.
David de Gea: Manchester United's Modern Legend
- Club: Manchester United
- Premier League Appearances: 415
- Premier League Clean Sheets: 147
- Premier League Titles: 1
Few could have predicted that when David de Gea rocked up to Manchester United in 2011 he would go on to be one of the best goalkeepers to ever grace the Premier League. Making a shaky start, de Gea quickly silenced his critics, winning the Premier League in 2012/2013 and establishing himself as the focal point of United's defence for over a decade. He has the most Manchester United clean sheets in the Premier League era with 147 (David de Gea's clean sheets at Man Utd being a significant contribution to the club's defensive record).
In terms of pure shot-stopping, few have ever arrived in English football as well as De Gea, who has made 1,157 saves – second only to Ben Foster in Premier League history. The 2022/23 season was his final season where he won the Golden Glove with 17 clean sheets demonstrating his class.
Most Premier League Clean Sheets: Records and Milestones
Most Premier League clean sheets: Petr Cech (202)
Most clean sheets for a single club: Petr Cech (162 for Chelsea)
Most clean sheets in a single season: Petr Cech (24 in 2004/05)
Fastest to 100 clean sheets: Petr Cech (180 games)
Most Premier League appearances by a goalkeeper: David James (572)
Most penalty saves: David James (13)
Best clean sheet ratio (200+ apps): Petr Cech (45.6%)
Goalkeepers Most Clean Sheets PL: Analysis of Consistency
What makes these top goalkeepers so special isn't just their ability to make spectacular saves, but their consistency over hundreds of matches. The Premier League goalkeeper stats show that maintaining a high clean sheet percentage requires not just individual brilliance but also excellent communication with the defence.
Premier League Clean Sheet Record: The Top 10
| Rank | Player | Clean sheets | Apps | Percent |
| 1 | Petr Čech | 202 | 443 | 45.60% |
| 2 | David James | 169 | 572 | 29.55% |
| 3 | Mark Schwarzer | 152 | 514 | 29.57% |
| 4 | David de Gea | 147 | 415 | 35.42% |
| 5 | David Seaman | 141 | 344 | 40.99% |
| 6 | Nigel Martyn | 137 | 372 | 36.83% |
| 7 | Pepe Reina | 136 | 297 | 45.79% |
| 8 | Edwin van der Sar | 132 | 313 | 42.17% |
| 9 | Tim Howard | 132 | 399 | 33.08% |
| 10 | Brad Friedel | 132 | 450 | 29.33% |
The Legacy of Premier League Goalkeepers
We have been treated to some standout goalkeepers in Premier League history, with some records not expected to ever be broken. From Petr Cech's clean-sheet record to David James' durability to the heroics of David de Gea in the modern day – the next generation has been influenced by them all. But despite the evolution of the league and new talent coming through, keeping the ball out of your net is still one of the absolutes of the beautiful game.
Cech, De Gea, and James, the safe hands of the Premier League have determined clubs' fate and made memories for supporters, either through their authority, athleticism or durability. Their records are not just numbers, they are benchmarks of brilliance, perseverance, and also the art of keeping a clean sheet.
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