Which goalkeeper should Juventus sign this summer?
· Yahoo Sports
With just a few months remaining until the start of the summer 2026 transfer window, it’s undeniable that Juventus have their work cut out for them. They need to sign a center back (potentially two if Gleison Bremer’s fitness struggles continue), whilst left back and right winger are also two top priorities. And even if they can extend Dušan Vlahovic’s deal, they’re likely going to need to sign another center forward to upgrade on Loïs Openda and Jonathan David.
But there can be zero doubt that one of the biggest areas for concern is in between the sticks. Juventus fans have been spoiled with a plethora of world-class goalkeepers over the years such as Dino Zoff, Stefano Tacconi, Angelo Peruzzi and Gianluigi Buffon. Even their “stopgap” goalkeepers like Wojciech Szczęsny and Edwin van der Sar have filled supporters with confidence thanks to their quick reactions and imposing interventions.
Visit umafrika.club for more information.
Unfortunately for Juve, however, it’s becoming abundantly clear that neither of their goalkeeping options are good enough.
Michele Di Gregorio has failed to replicate the same levels at Monza that saw him win the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year ahead of his move to Juve in 2024, whilst Mattia Perin hasn’t managed to make the strides that were expected of him when he joined a decade ago. At 28 and 33 years of age, respectively, it’s evident that Juve need to move on from both and search for a younger option who can be the No. 1 in the short-term and long-term.
The only question is, who?
1. Diogo Costa
From João Mário to Francisco Conceição, from Alberto Costa to Tiago Djaló, Juventus are no strangers to doing business with FC Porto in recent years, and there’s reason to believe that Diogo Costa could be the next transaction between the two clubs. Ever since breaking into the Porto team in the 2021-22 season, Costa has led by example and cemented his status as the best goalkeeper in Portugal, whilst he’s also established himself as the undisputed No. 1 in goal for the Portuguese national team.
Boasting nerves of steel and a strong pair of hands, Costa stays focused from start to finish and keeps his eyes peeled for any potential danger. He has fine-tuned his positional awareness in order to close down angles and give himself the best chance of saving a shot. Whether he’s protecting his team from being bombarded with an array of crosses, or getting a strong punch to a looping shot, or breaking the lines with a seamless long ball, Costa is the textbook example of a modern goalkeeper.
However, if there’s one reason that Juve should sign Costa, it’s his penalty-saving prowess. In 2024, he became the first goalkeeper to save three successive penalties in the Champions League (four if you consider that he saved the original and retaken penalty vs. Club Brugge), before becoming the first goalkeeper to save three penalties in the same shootout at a European Championship. And after saving three penalties against Slovenia in the Euros, he thwarted Álvaro Morata’s effort to secure the 2025 UEFA Nations League title for Portugal.
Having struggled to cover himself in glory in Portugal’s defeat to Morocco in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal, Costa has spent the past four years becoming a hero for club and country and emerging as one of the finest goalkeepers on the entire continent. He has proven essential for a Porto side that is harboring ambitions of a treble, and with a contract through 2030 and a €60 million release clause, the Dragons won’t be letting go of their captain without a fight.
2. Bart Verbruggen
He doesn’t turn 24 until August, but Bart Verbruggen is already establishing himself as one of the top goalkeepers in England. Born and raised in the Netherlands, Verbruggen joined Belgian giants Anderlecht in 2020 and quickly made a name for himself in goal, eventually being named the Anderlecht Player of the 2022-23 Season. These auspicious displays saw Brighton & Hove Albion pay £16.3 million for him, signing him to a five-year deal, with Verbruggen initially being rotated with Jason Steele in between the sticks.
After starting between the posts in the Netherlands’ run to the Euro 2024 semifinals, Verbruggen then became an undisputed starter under Fabian Hürzeler, where he showed signs of promise but never quite managed to convince thanks to a slew of high-profile errors. But this season, Verbruggen has managed to stand on his head and shake off those frustrating errors, earning praise for his audacity to come off his line and force the opposing forward into making a split-decision.
Verbruggen’s confidence is shining through at the moment, whether it’s backing himself to dribble out of the press and facilitate a counter-attack with a well-worked lofted pass, or deciding to zoom out from the box and bat away a dangerous aerial ball. And if he has a big World Cup, there’s reason to believe that his value will skyrocket. But don’t just take my word for it — take Hürzeler’s:
“In every phase of his game, in possession he makes much more calm decisions, more right decisions than he did before. Out of possession, he’s much more present. Of course, there have been one or two mistakes but regarding his development I see a different personality in the goal, I see a different Bart Verbruggen who gets a better understanding of the game, a better understanding of making the right decisions and who is just an incredible goalkeeper when it comes to making saves. Therefore, I am very happy with his development, with his performances so far. I see a bright future for him.”
3. Marco Carnesecchi
Unlike Costa and Verbruggen, Marco Carnesecchi isn’t his national team’s starting goalkeeper — in fact, he hasn’t even been called up for an international window until this month, where he’s unlikely to make his debut as Italy fights for a place at the 2026 World Cup. But don’t let that fool you: Carenesecchi is one of the best goalkeepers in Serie A alongside the likes of Mike Maignan and Mile Svilar, and he’s due a transfer sooner rather than later.
Atalanta have struggled to find their identity following the exit of legendary manager Gian Piero Gasperini, but they’ve nevertheless managed to reach the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 and the Coppa Italia semifinals thanks in large part to Carnesecchi, who has managed to single-handedly save his team time and time again. Whether laying out and blocking Marcus Thuram’s close-range attempt or thwarting Nico Paz’s 98th-minute penalty, Carnesecchi is responsible for a great deal of Atalanta’s 50 points.
With a prodigious wingspan, innate leadership and communication skills, and a willingness to step up and deliver in the most high-pressure scenarios, Carnesecchi has emerged as a fan favorite for La Dea. His sensational performances in Bergamo have seen him earn praise from the likes of Carlos García and take the next step in his development. Similarly to Costa (14 out of 52), Carnesecchi is a penalty demon, having saved 15 out of 53: Verbruggen, meanwhile, has saved just 2 out of 30.
So, just who should Juventus sign for the goalkeeper position? If they’re prioritizing age, go with Verbruggen. If they’re prioritizing cost, go with Carnesecchi: similarly to Verbruggen, he has a contract until 2028 and isn’t quite guaranteed to qualify for UEFA competition next season. If they’re prioritizing proven, world-class quality, go with Costa. No matter what, there is only so much longer Juve can go without upgrading in goal.