Scouting Potential Foreign Goalkeepers for MLS (2022)

Following the previous fall report on potential signings for MLS, Everybody Soccer returns with another scouting report on possible foreign goalkeepers for MLS teams. The US’s top league has finally started to explore more avenues when it comes to buying and selling players, both domestic and foreign.

Eligible goalkeepers were limited to (1) being at least 21 years old, (2) listed as having less than a $1,500,000 market value by Transfermarkt, and (3) ones that would have the highest possibility of being re-sold by an MLS team. Additionally, certain eligible goalkeepers were removed from inclusion, as moving to MLS didn’t make feasible sense for the stage they’re currently at in their career.


Toni Fuidias - Girona, 21

Bill says: Fuidias left Real Madrid this summer for another La Liga club, Girona, on a free transfer. Although Fuidias future is a little clouded when it comes to Girona’s plans for the young Spaniard, what’s not as blurry is Fuidias’ ability in between the posts. Although competitive minutes were sparse in the highly competitive environment, Fuidias is your prototypical young, Spanish goalkeeper: highly mobile with a keen focus on the smallest nuances but without any of the paralysis that typically comes with that attention to detail. TM has Fuidias’ contract with Girona running through summer 2025 but if they continue to keep him on the bench, they may be willing to let him go for a low fee.

Transfermarkt listing: $355,000

Mees Bakker - AZ, 21

Bill says: Bakker is currently on loan from AZ to second-division Dutch club De Graafschap but has yet to break in with either club. Transfermarkt lists Bakker’s contract to end next summer, making him a perfect candidate for MLS clubs to pounce on a potentially profitable goalkeeper. Bakker’s lack of minutes have kept the Dutch YNT goalkeeper off the radar for most clubs but that hasn’t stopped AZ from developing yet another front-footed goalkeeper. There aren’t many more aggressive goalkeepers in the world than Bakker, which provides a high boom-or-bust possibility.

Transfermarkt listing: $118,000

Anthony Racioppi - Young Boys, 23

Bill says: Racioppi rings in at just over the one million mark but the Swiss YNT alum has struggled for consistent playing time. Since leaving Dijon this winter, Racioppi returned to Swizterland’s premier league with Young Boys but has still been relegated to the bench. Utilizing a fluid style that’s often seen in Italian goalkeepers, Racioppi does well to react to a multitude of situations. From short-to-long range shooting situations to leaving his line, decision-making comes naturally for him, even if it’s not always a “textbook answer”. Racioppi needs minutes ASAP to stay relevant in Switzerland’s goalkeeping depth chart and MLS has long struggled to find foreign goalkeepers to handle atypical and scrappy challenges in goal.

Transfermarkt listing: $1,100,000

Luca Philipp - Hoffenheim, 22

Bill says: The German youth international is closing on a decade with how long he’s been with Hoffenheim. Philipp has patiently climbed every step inside the club, from the youth academy to the U17s to the U19s to the reserves, and has now found himself on the bench for the first team. It’s hard to see Hoffenheim offload him at this point, unless the steady play of 32-year-old starting goalkeeper Oliver Baumann delays the switch to the point where Philipp is frustrated from waiting. Philipp isn’t very flashy in goal but he is classically German in his methodical approach. Although you’re likely to see fewer big highlight reel saves, you’re also less likely to see poor goals with his steady approach. TM has his contract ending in the summer of 2023 and the right fit might pull the young goalkeeper to a new environment.

Transfermarkt listing: $330,000

Lazar Carevic - Vojvodina, 23

Bill says: Spain are quietly developing a slew of game generals and Carevic is no exception. After four years with Barcelona, Carevic moved east on a free transfer to the Vojvodina, a Serbian first-division club. Allowing only 13 goals in his first 15 league matches with the club, Carevic has also notched his first start with his national team of Montenegro back in March. Carevic brings a unique nimbleness to the southeastern European league, although it’s difficult to maintain in environments that lean on power and speed (see Kepa’s difficult start with Chelsea). Although the Serbian SuperLiga could trampoline the goalkeeper to a higher league, MLS will offer more exposure for Carevic.

Transfermarkt listing: $220,000

Best of the Rest

  • Cristian Rivero - Valencia, 24. Long time Valencia product with no clear route forward in the club. $220,000 listing.

  • Markus Schubert - Vitesse, 24. German returning from knee surgery at a crowded dutch club. $660,000 listing.

  • Luis López - Real Madrid, 21. One of the stalwart clubs in goalkeeper development with a goalkeeper struggling for playing time. $355,000 listing.

  • Ortwin De Wolf - Royal Antwerp, 26. Former Belgian YNT whose value recently “dropped” from depth chart issues and is wanting to reignite his career. $592,000 listing.

  • Manuel Roffo - Tigre, 22. Argentinian YNT looking to take his career forward from Argentina’s premier division. $740,000 listing

  • Théo De Percin - AJ Auxerre, 21. “Shoot from the hip” style with high range, if he can find the right blueprint for himself. $178,000 listing.

  • Andrea Zaccagno - Rimini, 25. Illustrious Italian YNT whose career has stalled in third division Italy. $118,000 listing.

  • Ellery Balcombe - Brentford, 23. Contract reportedly expires in May 2023 for the English U20 goalkeeper. $355,000 listing.

Scouting Potential Foreign Goalkeepers for MLS (Spring 2021)

Following the previous summer report on potential signings for MLS, Everybody Soccer returns with another scouting report on possible foreign goalkeepers for MLS teams. The US’s top league has finally started to explore more avenues when it comes to buying and selling players, both domestic and foreign.

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Eligible goalkeepers were limited to (1) being over 19 years old, (2) listed as having less than a $1,000,000 market value by Transfermarkt, and (3) ones that would have the highest possibility of being re-sold by an MLS team. Additionally, certain goalkeepers were removed from inclusion, despite qualifying for the previous criteria, as moving to MLS didn’t make feasible sense for the stage they’re currently at in their career.

Each goalkeeper is ranked in nine different categories. Rankings are based on the ranking levels provided in the nearby graphic where 7 is an elite ability while 1 is extremely poor. A brief rundown on each goalkeepers’ style of play and relevant information is provided underneath the rankings. Lastly, each goalkeeper’s style of play - not overall ability - is compared to an MLS goalkeeper to give the reader an idea of how the goalkeeper approaches the position.


Phillip Menzel

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Notes: 6’4”, 182 lbs… average athleticism but otherwise above average in most other aspects of his game… feels comfortable collecting crosses with smooth approaches and clean hands… has a calming posture to him where he’s found a healthy mix of being patient yet knowing how to take forward space when need be… doesn’t seem to get overwhelmed when he needs to make a reflex or improv save, despite not having the athleticism of his peers… understated goalkeeper who can easily be overlooked but strong fundamentals will add up over the course of his career.

Similar style of play: Jeff Attinella

Transfermarkt listing: $220,000

Calvin Heim

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Notes: 6’3”, 165 lbs… solid foundations, methodical approach in most situations… sharp footwork… hands inconsistent but has positive moments, should come in time… cross management problematic… comfortable on the ball and will try ambitious passes… left foot has a noticeable dropoff but not completely unserviceable… doesn’t look to develop much more athletically but is far from poor in those areas… hasn’t played since July 2020… strengths are found in strong technical foundation and steadiness in goal.

Similar style of play: Brady Scott

Transfermarkt listing: n/a

Mike van de Meulenhof

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Notes: 5’11”, 174 lbs… hasn’t played since February 2020… confident with both feet but execution and decision making in question… quick yet smooth footwork allow for impressive acceleration and the ability to break out for an extension save… not afraid to attack a cross but, similar to distribution, can overplay his hand… utilizes speed and smart body shape to shut down 1v1s, but doesn’t play a high line… displayed several positive moments put lack of recent minutes is concerning.

Similar style of play: Tony Meola

Transfermarkt listing: $330,000

Moritz Nicolas

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Notes: 6’4”, 191 lbs… footwork is confident and well thought-out, but average speed likely means it’s about as good as it’s going to get… not poor but not great athleticism… has struggled in close range situations in knowing what tool is the right fit for the job, although he has shown different looks. Needs to find correct style for himself in that area… strong on crosses, reads the ball and executes well… distribution is mostly with right foot and simple but has adapted well when need be… an understated goalkeeper with little “flash” to his game, but the consistency should pay off in an environment that utilizes him.

Similar style of play: Stefan Frei

Transfermarkt listing: $275,000

Jay Gorter

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Notes: 6’3”, 174 lbs… sits incredibly deep when defending but has impressive speed to close down attacks… can be a little overly reliant on quickness on breakaways… difficult for him to defend 1v1s efficiently when heels sit on goal line… hands not great but adequate, could be improved… reliance on mobility makes for a “boom or bust” situation when plays break down… can get lost when patience is required… deep position makes coming from crosses tricky but compensates with a quick break off his line… can clip a ball well with both feet… doesn’t have the typical fundamentals down when considering MLS goalkeepers, but plays extremely front-footed and wants to be more than just a shot-stopper… upside could be higher if he finds a better complementary style, as deep line + speed don’t always mesh well.

Similar style of play: Steve Clark

Transfermarkt listing: $770,000

Martin Vantruba

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Notes: 6’5”, 176 lbs… lack of consistent play makes Vantruba’s upside difficult to gauge… has some mechanics and foundations to his game but every so often he’ll rely on brute force to solve a problem… weak hands… coming off his line isn’t the smoothest… has moments of brilliance when he can figure out his footing… comfortable on the ball, if not overambitious… Vantruba feels close but lack of consistent minutes likely inhibiting his ability to find consistency… would be a project for any team but the upside is there for the nimble, lanky goalkeeper.

Similar style of play: Alex Bono

Transfermarkt listing: $165,000

Remy Descamps

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Notes: 6’5”, 180 lbs… has the ability to make a game-changing save with the combination of frame and athleticism. However, nimble movement is difficult for him, which can show up in lateral movement or deflected shots… dominates crosses easily… distribution can be poor at times but does have a cannon with his left foot… excels in all the areas a tall goalkeeper would be expected to excel at and struggles in the areas tall goalkeepers typically struggle at.

Similar style of play: David Ousted

Transfermarkt listing: $880,000

Dominik Hladun

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Notes: 6’3”, 169 lbs… lanky, explosive goalkeeper who can cover the upper corners with ease… forward movement is cumbersome and can struggle when it’s more than a few steps to collect a ball… distribution average at best… plays fine when he lets the play come to him, but has a knack of inevitably running into situations he can’t solve with just having a big frame... would do well to play more within skillset and not shoehorn aggressive approach when he doesn’t have the quick footwork to match it.

Similar style of play: Michael Gspurning

Transfermarkt listing: $715,000

Three USL Goalkeepers Ready for MLS

With so many backup goalkeepers making their mark in MLS this season, it’s no secret that there’s a plethora of talent across the country ready to take on a little more responsibility. USL expansion has created more chances for goalkeepers to prove their merit, as proven by the fact that all three of the listed goalkeepers are with teams that were founded in the last five years. As we head into 2021, don’t be surprised if you see one of these goalkeepers with a new team and playing in the US’s top league.

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Sean Lewis (Tulsa FC, 28)

MLS equivalent: Sean Johnson
Highlights

Lewis’ rise to prominence has almost a fairytale story. After finishing his time in the collegiate ranks (starting at Western Michigan before transferring to Oakland for his senior year) he bounced around with some PDL, NPSL, and NASL teams for years before finally landing in the USL. Lewis was on track to become a lifelong backup before capturing the starting spot with Penn FC, where he springboarded to Tulsa FC.

Tulsa had relied heavily on Lewis to qualify for the 2020 playoffs as he’s only conceded an astonishing 16 goals in 15 games. Lewis’ game is similar to New York City FC’s Sean Johnson, who plays deep on his line but has the quickness and bravery to shut down dangerous situations in the box. It’s been a long road to this point but if there’s one word to describe Lewis’ trajectory to 2020, it’s determination.

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Logan Ketterer (El Paso Locomotive, 26)

MLS equivalent: Tyler Miller
Highlights

Despite remaining almost exclusively on the bench for his two years with the Columbus Crew, Ketterer rebounded well by signing with the newly minted El Paso Locomotive in hopes of showing what the Crew missed out on. There’s something to be said about a player who’s willing to bet on themselves and Ketterer has done just that. After a stellar collegiate career at Bradley University, Ketterer took the first-year club to the 2019 USL semifinal before a goal in extra time ended their run.

Now after back-to-back trips to the playoffs in both 2019 and 2020, Ketterer is due an upgrade in responsibility. Ketterer and Tyler Miller have some parallels, with both utilizing their mobility and lanky frame to cover a surprising amount of the goalmouth. Ketterer has been counted out by MLS thus far but another positive post-season run could put him back on MLS teams’ radars.

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Kyle Morton (St. Louis FC, 26)

MLS equivalent: Will Hesmer
Highlights

For the old-timers out there, Morton’s play is reminiscent of Will Hesmer. It’s a combination of patience and strength to see tough situations all the way through, not conceding weak goals down the middle. Although Morton’s play isn’t flashy, he’s a difficult goalkeeper for strikers to figure out. Fundamentals and not overplaying his hand are pillars to Morton’s game, showing why turn of the century American goalkeepers were successful without having lightning-fast reflexes.

At 26, Morton has his best years ahead of him. Although St. Louis will join MLS in 2023, don’t be surprised if Morton leaves the USL a little early to show off just how high his ceiling actually is.

The Future of the USMNT: The 15 Best U24 American Goalkeepers

cover photo from Stanford Athletics

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After surveying the up-and-coming goalkeepers in the women’s game last month, we return to dive into the USMNT goalkeeping pool. Building off the previous scouting reports, the following goalkeepers are given a current and projected ranking, as well as evaluating the goalkeepers on the same nine categories. Although the limited ratings do not completely encompass the position, the brief survey and following paragraph for each goalkeeper is intended to give a decent foundation for new observers in understanding each goalkeeper’s approach to the position.

A 1-7 scale is used to gauge each goalkeeper. A “7” is a world-class level, a “4” is a low professional or high Division I collegiate goalkeeper, and a “1” is dreadful. Numbers in green are the current rankings for each goalkeeper, while the numbers in gold are projections of where they are expected to end up. Definitions for each category can be found at the bottom.

The 15 Best U24 American Goalkeepers

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1. CJ dos Santos (Benfica) - 19

Scouting Report: CJ dos Santos embraces the Benfica spirit of playing a high line at all costs. Constantly active in the offensive build, dos Santos is also quick to snuff out through balls and breakaways. Although he can get a little over-reliant on using his speed to solve counters on goal, which can make him impatient with slow attacks in the final third, his ability to read the game and explosiveness help him cover more of the goal than goalkeepers who solely rely on their speed.

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2. Rocco Rios Novo (Club Atletico Lanus) - 18

Scouting Report: The former U17 Argentine goalkeeper, Rocco Rios Novo, has a fair amount of parallels to Zack Steffen. Playing with an impressive amount of poise, Novo lets the game come to him and never looks overwhelmed with the odds aren’t in his favor. Novo was born in Los Angeles but he’s already played for Argentina’s U17 national team multiple times, including their ninth-place finish in the 2019 U17 World Cup, making his switch to the US very unlikely.

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3. Andrew Thomas (Stanford University) - 21

Scouting Report: Andrew Thomas joined Stanford University after spending a year inside Watford FC’s youth academy. Thomas gained some notoriety after his penalty heroics against Seattle and Clemson in last year’s national tournament before looking a little out of sorts against Georgetown in the semifinal. Thomas’s issues will rarely ever be found in his prep work, possessing a fantastic eye for the play and an impeccable balance to respond to any situation, but his athleticism’s ceiling will likely dictate just how far his career can go.

4. Victor Vidal (Lleida Esportiu) - 20

Scouting Report: Victor Vidal instills many common traits of Spanish goalkeepers: high mobility and an eagerness to get involved with building out of the back. As of recent, Vidal has struggled with playing time, earning only spare minutes over the past couple of years. If Vidal can get a heavier commitment from a club, he could go from just another goalkeeper in Spain’s lower divisions to a top prospect for the USMNT.

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5. Ethan Wady (Chelsea) - 18

Scouting Report: Ethan Wady clocks in at 6’4” and he looks every bit of it. Wady is at the bottom of a long depth chart, featuring youth internationals from Croatia, England, Finland, and Ivory Coast ahead of him. As for any goalkeeper blessed with height, cleaning up footwork to take advantage of his imposing frame. If Wady can make the tiny, micro-movements with ease, he should have a bright future ahead of him.

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6. Brooks Thompson (Sporting Kansas City) - 18

Scouting Report: Brooks Thompson has long been rumored to be a top prospect within higher up goalkeeping circles. This season, Thompson played four of the first six matches for SKC II and has yet to look out of place. Thompson shows signs of a career beyond MLS but mobility and explosiveness don’t always come naturally for 6’4” goalkeepers. If SKC can continue to develop Thompson, they may be looking at a decent transfer fee sooner than later.

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7. John Pulskamp (Sporting Kansas City) - 19

Scouting Report: John Pulskamp trialed with Bournemouth AFC in the summer of 2018 before returning stateside with Sporting Kansas City. Pulskamp’s 2019 campaign with SKC II wasn’t pretty - conceding 34 goals in 14 games and finishing dead last the goals saved above replacement - but the shelling didn’t seem to waver Pulskamp’s confidence. Building off a strong resolve will carry any goalkeeper far but now Pulskamp must increase his “bubble” in terms of how much of the goal he can cover if he’s wanting to make a run as an MLS starter.

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8. Chituru Odunze (Leicester City) - 17

Scouting Report: Chituru Odunze broke onto the scene last year by signing for Leicester City and taking over the number one spot at the 2019 U17 World Cup. Odunze’s size is hard to overlook but there are many questions surrounding his non-shot stopping attributes. Striking a ball seems a bit of a chore for Odunze and handling crosses isn’t his specialty, despite the size. Leicester City should be an ideal environment for Odunze to round out his game but he has some work ahead of him.

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9. Damian Las (Fulham) - 18

Scouting Report: Damian Las left the Chicago Fire for Fulham last fall and was regularly featured with Fulham’s U18s right up until the break for COVID-19. Las has a good eye for the play and never backs down from a challenge but speed of play has been a thorn in the 18-year-old’s side. Las has all the tools to be successful but the last checkbox is finding the rhythm of the game’s demands and responding to them in correct time.

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10. Luca Lewis (Torino) - 19

Scouting Report: Luca Lewis has spent time with the US U20s and had some notable backing from Torino over the past two years, getting plenty of playing time with the Italian club’s youth teams. While Lewis isn’t error-prone, he has a knack for the dramatics and making chances on goal seem more complicated than need be. Lewis’ ceiling will follow his ability to make more of the game look manageable and instilling some calmness in handling what the opposition has to offer.

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11. Evan Louro (Tampa Bay Rowdies) - 24

Scouting Report: New York Red Bulls fans should be familiar with Louro, who joined the Red Bulls academy in 2008. For close to a decade, many assumed Louro would be the answer for the post-Robles era but instead the Michigan alum is making waves for himself in Tampa. Louro has the unique ability of possessing a game-changing save but the consistency of executing it is still in question. Louro was number one in goals saved above replacement in USL action last year so his time until he arrives in MLS is less a matter of “if” but “when”.

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12. Nicholas Defreitas-Hansen (Everton) - 19

Scouting Report: Nicholas Defreitas-Hansen is easily the most rounded out goalkeeper in the crop and his projection follows suit. There are pros and cons to being so even across the board, but perhaps the most concerning aspect is going under the radar without having any standout quality. On the other hand, some managers want a goalkeeper who can cover every aspect of the game. Defreitas-Hansen’s future is only made cloudier by the fact that he’s represented both the US’s and Denmark’s youth national teams.

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13. JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes) - 23

Scouting Report: JT Marcinkowski has played at virtually every level for the USYNTs but his time since leaving Georgetown University has been a tumultuous one. Marcinkowski is extremely quick and handles crosses well (a rare trait for a USYNT goalkeeper) but seems to get tied up on atypical situations. Too often it feels like Marcinkowski is getting beat by goals that aren’t outright howlers but are ones he’s more than capable of saving. Marcinkowski looks clean from shots atop the 18 but outside of that it’s a gray area.

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14. Justin Vom Steeg (Los Angeles Galaxy) - 23

Scouting Report: Justin Vom Steeg is at a point where he’s due for more responsibility. At 23, if Vom Steeg has any aspirations for playing beyond MLS, he doesn’t need to be playing against teenagers anymore. Vom Steeg is another goalkeeper with all the tools but his decision making can be spotty at times. If Vom Steeg can find a good balance between timid and tense and continue to push his ceiling, he should be able to make a run at an MLS starting spot.

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15. Jonathan Klinsmann (Free Agent) - 23

Scouting Report: At the start of the month, it was quietly announced that Jonathan Klinsmann would not be returning to his Swiss club, St. Gallen. Klinsmann’s career has felt like one step forward, one step backward and this exit doesn’t help Klinsmann’s momentum. Klinsmann’s next step will be an interesting one but his chances at getting to an MLS-equivalent level seem to be closing quickly.

Technical

  • Footwork, Angle Play – Efficiency in micro-adjustments, balance, and angles taken vs. shooter

  • Hands – The goalkeeper’s ability to hold shots, prevent easy rebounds, and drop crosses

  • Distribution – Success with distribution from throws, balls from ground, and punts

Athleticism

  • Post-to-Post time – Acceleration speed for goalkeepers’ forward and lateral (post-to-post) movement

  • Explosiveness – A goalkeeper’s ability to cover the goal width as well as reaction speed. A good “shot-stopper” will have high explosiveness and footwork ratings

  • Breakaways –  Success in 1v1 situations and generally handling through balls

Tactical

  • Crossing – Comfortability with incoming aerial service on crosses, free kicks, and corners

  • Improvisation – A goalkeeper’s success can solve an unfamiliar situation.

  • Consistency – How often a goalkeeper is playing to their top ability. Inversely it takes into account how often a goalkeeper gives up a soft goal. A “clutch” goalkeeper will have a high consistency rating as well.