Football Manager 23has launched and gamers can once again get to work and live the life of a successful football manager. Players canstart at a football giant, like Liverpool, or begin at a smaller club like Wrexham and work for the club up to the top. The choice is of the essence.
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A good place to start when beginning at a new club is starting from the back and having a good goalkeeper from the get-go. There are several shot-stoppers inFootball Manager 23that players can get for next to nothing, some as a cheap way to begin or some to grow and develop into a true superstar.
Updated on August 06, 2025, by Ben Painter:Football Manager 23 continues to be the game that gamers can sit on and pass away the time. The addictive soccer management simulator is always high up the steam rankings and this latest entry is no exception. When building a team on the game the best place to start is getting a solid goalkeeper to help keep those opposition strikers at bay, keeping clean sheets and not conceding is a tactic that is sure to win those vital three points. There are many young goalkeepers, that are friendly for those on a budget. This update adds five new shot stoppers that FM23 fans should invest in for their sides.
15Keiren Westwood
Starting with a very cheap pickup, the vastly experienced Keiren Westwood is a free agent from the start and therefore available for nothing at all and will require a very cheap wage.
If a lower league team was the choice made then Westwood could be also employed as a goalkeeping coach, killing two birds with one stone and saving those vital pennies along the way.At 37 years of age, the Irishman doesn’t have long left in the game, but he is certainly a cost-effective way to start one’s playthrough.
14Andy Lonergan
Another veteran to add to one’s roster, Andy Lonergan is at Premier League club Everton at the start of the save, but the club is looking to get him out the door, available for a measly $5,000.
Lonergan is 38 years old, so just like Westwood is close to the end of his career, but it is a great way to start with a smaller club and pick up a Premier League winner to tend the sticks at the club of one’s choosing. He has good goalkeeping stats, despite his age, and will be a fantastic servant for the first couple of seasons as players climb up the table. Fans can then replace him with one of these younger players.
13Etienne Green
Etienne Green is an English goalkeeper who plays for Saint Étienne, who plays in green. It seems like he was made for the club, but gamers should ruin that and sign him up for their chosen club. Available for $3-8 million, Green is a steal for this price.
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The 22-year-old has bags of potential and to possibly return him to England to be more in the National Team fold could be a nice storyline to achieve. With fantastic goalkeeping stats and 74 potential, this goalkeeper is one to look out for inFootball Manager 23.
12Charlie Setford
Another Brit playing abroad, Charlie Setford is an 18-year-old goalkeeper playing for Ajax’s Under 18 squad over in the Netherlands. Setford is one of the best young goalkeepers to pick up because he is given dynamic potential, meaning how much fans play him will determine how good he will become.
No doubt Setford will be a nightmare for opposition strikersif fans develop him over time, as the number one or out on loan at another club. Setford is a must-buy inFootball Manager 23.
11Nathaniel Nwosu
Without a doubt one of the best bargain goalkeepers to pick up inFootball Manager 23on a budget. At just 16 years of age, in real life, he already has one appearance for the Nigerian National team.
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He can be picked up for absolute pennies andstarts with a decent rating and has the potential to grow. Fans can pick him up for under $10k which is a no-brainer for any avidFM23fan. From a small club to making him the number one to a big club, having him in the academy, or loaning him out, Nwosu is perfect for any team.
10Lucas Cañizares
A bit on the dearer side, but still an absolute bargain for a keeper of his caliber, playing for Real Madrid’s second team. Cañizares could be the next Iker Casillas. At $ 4 million a loan to buy could be arranged which will make his price an absolute steal and take a superb goalkeeper off one of the top dogs in the game.
Spain always has had some really good playersand it is always handy to add a few Spaniards to one’s arsenal and play that tiki-taka style that made them famous. A ball-playing goalkeeper such as this Galatico is a great way to start off in a career mode, building that solid base that will take players toFootball Manager 23glory.
9Iker Álvarez
This shot-stopper is one of the best young goalkeepers in the game, playing for Villareal’s B team. The ceiling is high for this one. A good storyline in FM saves is taking a player from a smaller nation and turning them into a world-beater, the best player their country has ever seen.
Fans can do this with Álvarez. The Andorran is a great pickup for this reason. He is a good goalkeeper already and could be purchased for under $ 1 million. Go out and buy Álvarez and create the greatest player that Andorra has ever seen.
8Elia Caprile
The former Leeds United goalkeeper moved on to Bari at the start of this season, so it may be a challenge to pick him up in the first season. Keep an eye on this Italian though because he has the potential to reach the very top.
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Italy always produces some top players. Caprile can follow in the footsteps of legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and become an amazing goalkeeper for many years. Players can get him for under $ 1 million and there is no question about it, it is a steal.
7Javier Belman
Available for absolutely nothing at the start of the game, Spaniard Javier Belman is one to buy for a club on a budget. At just 24 years old, there is room for Belman to grow. Gamers could have a perfect goalkeeper, for at least a few years, from the start without spending a penny.
Belman has excellent stats for a free agent, and once players sign him, he is available for $500k-4.9 million. If players are in it to make money this player should be the main target.
6Alejandro Iturbe
The most expensive goaltender on this list, Alejandro Iturbe is probably the best young player for his position to buy inFootball Manager 23.Another Spaniard, but this is the ONE to buy.Fantastic goalkeeping stats and the sky is the limit for this 19-year-old.
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Playing for Atletico Madrid’s B team, a loan can be arranged if his price tag is stretching the budget. If gamers do splash out it will be worth every penny as they, more than likely, won’t need to pick up another goalkeeper throughout the save.
