We’re well into 2026 and EAFC 26 is still going strong.
Ultimate Team may be the main focus of the game, but Career Mode has a special place in our hearts. That’s because you can start whenever you want, as many times as you want.
No matter who you’re managing the premise and aim of Manager Career — as it’s now called — remains the same. Winning the league and continental trophies, no matter where you start or who you manage.
We’ve covered the centre-backs, strikers and wingers you need to sign in Manager Career, and now it’s time to move onto goalkeepers. This might be the most important position in a team. What’s the point in boasting the best defence in the world if your goalkeeper isn’t good enough? And you can tell by the value of the top shot-stoppers in the game.
But who do you go for on EAFC 26? We’ve taken a look at some of the top goalkeepers available to buy in your first window, across an array of transfer fees to make your job a tad easier.
We’re just looking at players available in the first window of Men’s Career Mode here, with finances in Women’s Career Mode much different.
Values and presence of release clauses may vary per save, while availability may vary depending on strictness of transfers.
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EAFC 26 best goalkeepers to sign on Career Mode – Under £5m
Lucca Brughmans (Genk)
- Initial EAFC 26 overall: 61
- Potential EAFC 26 overall: 82
- Value: £800k
We start out journey with a goalkeeper that may seem very low-rated. But bear with us. Lucca Brughmans has an initial Overall of 61 and will be a good addition to those starting outside of top flights. The Belgian is 17 at the start of Manager Career and has fairly well-rounded attributes for a goalkeeper of his age and level. Brughmans’ diving is his standout attribute at 66, but his Positioning is also 62. His three-star Weak Foot isn’t too bad either, so won’t hinder you if you play onto his left rather than the favoured right. And he’s 6’6″!
As is always the case with this cheaper options, Brughmans’ potential isn’t fantastic. But he can grow to 82 overall, which will be more than good enough to get you on your way. Despite his value of £800k, Genk will accept around £600k with a sell-on clause for the Belgian.
Tiago Pereira Cardoso (Borussia Monchengladbach)
- Initial EAFC 26 overall: 67
- Potential EAFC 26 overall: 82
- Value: £1.8m
If you want someone a bit more established, but still cheap enough for those lower-level clubs, Tiago Pereira Cardoso can be a good option. The Luxembourgish goalkeeper starts Manager Career aged 19, with an Overall of 67. That will be better than a lot of lower-level clubs have at their disposal. His Diving and Reflexes are both in the 70s, and 71 and 70, respectively. But his Kicking at 68 isn’t too bad either, especially with three-star Weak Foot.
Again, Pereira Cardoso only has the potential to grow to 82 overall. But that’s good enough for those who will be signing him. Gladbach don’t put up too much of a fight, though you will still have to part with around £1.8m.
Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro (AZ)
- Initial EAFC 26 overall: 70
- Potential EAFC 26 overall: 83
- Value: £2.9m
We move over to the Netherlands for this option. Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro looks to be a decent option, again a bit more established than the one before him. The Dutch goalkeeper has an initial Overall of 70, and is still only 20 at the start of Manager Career. His Reflexes are his best attribute at 73, but he does also have 69 in Diving and Positioning. Owusu-Oduro is slightly smaller at 6’2″, but that won’t be too much of an issue — especially with two PlayStyles.
Owusu-Oduro does also have a slightly higher potential Overall, with the capability of growing to 83. And AZ know they have a gem on their hands. So you’ll have to fork out around £3.3m for the Dutch goalkeeper.
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EAFC 26 best goalkeepers to sign on Career Mode – £5m – £20m
PLAYER NAME (CLUB)
- Initial EAFC 26 overall: 74
- Potential EAFC 26 overall: 83
- Value: £7m
We’re sticking in Germany for our next goalkeeper pick, though slightly more expensive. Mio Backhaus plays for Werder Bremen and has been their first-choice goalkeeper in the Bundesliga this season. That’s despite only recently turning 22. In terms of Manager Career, Backhaus has an initial Overall of 74 — so there is work to be done. But that does include 80 Reflexes, which is excellent. He also boasts 74 Diving and 73 Positioning, so he’s very capable to start off with.
Backhaus’ potential is only 83, the same as Owusu-Oduro, but you’re paying a bit more to have the higher starting point. He’s valued at £7m, and Werder Bremen will accept around that if you include a sell-on clause.
Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege)
- Initial EAFC 26 overall: 75
- Potential EAFC 26 overall: 86
- Value: £9m
Moving slightly up the price list, we arrive at Matthieu Epolo. The Belgian is still only 20 at the start of Manager Career but comes with an initial Overall of 75. That’s a pretty decent starting point. Four of his six main goalkeeper attributes are in the 70s, with Epolo’s Diving his best at 77. But his 76 Reflexes aren’t too far behind. Now there is a slight downside with two-star Weak Foot, but you can always work on that in Manager Career — and you’ll improve his 68 Kicking as you go along.
We’re hitting decent potential here, with Epolo able to grow to 86 Overall if you nuture him in the right way. Despite this, Standard Liege don’t want too much for him. Even though they’ll ask for more than his value, you can still sign Epolo for around £10m.
Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig)
- Initial EAFC 26 overall: 76
- Potential EAFC 26 overall: 84
- Value: £12.5m
Real ones know about Maarten Vandevoordt. He was once a FIFA Career Mode wonderkid, and he still provides a good option for EAFC 26 Manager Career. The Belgian is now 23 and has an initial Overall of 76, making him a decent standard to begin with. Vandevoordt has four goalkeeper attributes at 75+, with the only exceptions behind his Positioning (74) and Speed. But again he’s another goalkeeper with good Diving and Reflexes. And his three-star Weak Foot isn’t too bad either.
Vandevoordt still has the potential to grow to 86 Overall, becoming one of the better goalkeepers in the game. But RB Leipzig are no mugs. They’ll only accept around £15m for Vandevoordt. Still, he’s worth it.
EAFC 26 best goalkeepers to sign on Career Mode – £20m and above
Robin Risser (Lens)
- Initial EAFC 26 overall: 78
- Potential EAFC 26 overall: 85
- Value: £20.5m
We start the top level of goalkeepers with Robin Risser. Now, if you’re all about potential, you might actually be better looking back down the prices (or higher up). But if you’re eyeing up a decent starting point, Risser could be a choice. He has an initial Overall of 78, which includes 82 Kicking and 80 Reflexes. The rest of his attributes aren’t too bad either, with 79 Diving more than good enough to build on. He’s a pretty good option.
Now, Rissen only has the potential to grow to 85, so he won’t be end-game. But he’ll get you on the way. And for a decent price of around £25m.
Anatoliy Trubin (Benfica)
- Initial EAFC 26 overall: 80
- Potential EAFC 26 overall: 87
- Value: £31m
Moving slightly up the list in terms of price and initial Overall, we come to Anatoliy Trubin. The Benfica goalkeeper starts Manager Career 80-rated, which again helps for the mid-to-upper-level top-tier teams. Trubin’s Reflexes are his best attribute with a rating of 84, just beating his 83 Positioning. The Diving, Handling and Kicking are all a bit lower, but you can work on all of those as the career progresses. He’s also 6’6″, which we won’t say no to!
Trubin has the potential to grow to 87 Overall, which explains his starting value of £31m. You may need to negotiate hard for him, but Benfica will accept around £37.5m.
Joan Garcia (Barcelona)
- Initial EAFC 26 overall: 86
- Potential EAFC 26 overall: 89
- Value: £62.5m
Our final goalkeeper is Barcelona’s Joan Garcia. You can get higher-rated goalkeepers, but you’ll need to do more than break the bank. And that’s not what we’re about. Garcia has an initial Overall of 86, so he will get into most teams. That comes with 88 Reflexes and 85s in Positioning and Diving, alongside 84 Handling. Even his Kicking isn’t too bad at 80. And, as always, we ignore the Speed. Garcia also has three-star Weak Foot and 1v1 Close Down+, to go with his 6’4″ frame.
Garcia has the potential to grow to 89 Overall, which is what we’re all about. Barcelona won’t let him go without a fight, but they will accept around £86m.