Top 5 Greatest African Goalkeepers in Premier League History as Onana Joins United

Andre Onana has completed a switch to Manchester United from Inter Milan, for a fee in the region of £47.2 million.

The Cameroon international penned a five-year deal at Old Trafford with the option of a further year. The 27-year-old has replaced the departed David De Gea, who left the club after 12 years as the club's first-choice stopper.

According to Sky Sports, the transfer fee for Onana is an initial £43.8mil, plus £3.4mil in potential add-ons, depending on individual and club performance.

The former Ajax custodian is the latest goalkeeper from Africa to ply his trade in the Premier League; part of a growing list of signings from the continent where the English top flight already enjoys loyal support.

Sports Brief evaluates the top-ranked African safe hands in the Premier League history.

5. Carl Ikeme - Nigeria

A veteran goalkeeper from Wolverhampton Wanderers, who - despite being loaned out to eight different teams over a 15-year career - remained loyal and never signed permanently for another club.

In 2015, Ikeme took over as Nigeria's No. 1 goalkeeper after Vincent Enyeama's departure and went on to earn 10 caps for the Super Eagles.

However, a year prior to the 2018 World Cup, he received a diagnosis of acute leukemia, the BBC reported. Although he triumphed over the illness, his playing career came to an end and he was unable to partake in Wolves' resurgence to the top tier.

During his extensive tenure with the Old Gold, Ikeme had only one opportunity to feature in the Premier League for the Midlanders, which occurred in the 2011-12 season.

4. Andre Arendse - South Africa

Arendse, a key player of South Africa's victorious 1996 Africa Cup of Nations team, featured in the final held in Johannesburg, where they triumphed 2-0 against Tunisia, managed by Clive Barker's Nation Builders.

Initially starting his career in his home country, he later made a move to England, playing for Fulham and Oxford United, before eventually returning to South Africa.

His success continued as he secured a PSL (Premier Soccer League) title in 2009 with SuperSport United. Following his playing career, he transitioned into coaching with Bidvest Wits.

3. Richard Kingson - Ghana

Kingson had a successful four-year stint in English football, proudly playing for Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic, and gaining significant recognition with his outstanding contributions at Blackpool.

Hailing from Ghana, he is revered as a legend, earning a remarkable 90 caps for the national team - the Black Stars. Notably, he participated in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cup campaigns, leaving a lasting impact on his country's footballing history.

He was a vital member of the Black Stars squad that achieved runners-up position at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2010, cementing his status as a revered figure in Ghanaian football.

2. Edouard Mendy - Senegal

The Senegalese goaltender was relatively impressive during his stint at West London. Mendy kept out Kepa Arrizabalaga for a longer spell at Stamford Bridge until the latter part of last season.

The towering stopper is now a new recruit in Saudi Arabia, having signed for Al-Ahli on a three-year contract from Chelsea, who he joined in 2020.

Mendy leaves with a UEFA Champions League winner's medal following the Blues' triumph in 2021.

1. Bruce Grobbelaar - Zimbabwe

Regarded as possibly the finest African goalkeeper ever, the South African-born Zimbabwean earned legendary status at Liverpool, where he played a vital role in their European triumph in 1984.

The Reds' success in the final shootout against AS Roma was owed much to Grobbelaar's unconventional and agile style, which ultimately secured the coveted continental crown for the Merseysiders.

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Though past his prime when the Premier League commenced, Grobbelaar remained loyal to his beloved Liverpool, representing them for several seasons before eventually transferring to Southampton.

During his time on the south coast, the eccentric goalkeeper faced persistent rumours of involvement in match-fixing, which cast a shadow over his career.