The 23-year-old goalkeeper eyes historic goalkeeping milestone between now and the end of the Premier League season with Sunderland
Robin Roefs is facing a race against time to break a long-standing top-flight record with Sunderland between now and the end of the Premier League season.
There is a palpable atmosphere of positive expectation at the Stadium of Light, as the fans witness the most consistent goalkeeping displays seen in the North East for over two decades.
With the team having long-secured survival, the individual achievements of the young Dutchman have provided a major source of pride.
The 23-year-old is one of the most effective signings made by the club in the modern era, with his recent performances sparking significant interest from several members of the Big Six, including Tottenham and Chelsea.
The upcoming fixture against Nottingham Forest on Friday presents Roefs with the opportunity to move closer to a record that has stood for a quarter of a century.
Currently sitting on nine clean sheets for the season, the former NEC Nijmegen man is chasing the benchmark set by Thomas Sørensen, who recorded 12 shutouts during the 2001/02 Premier League campaign.
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Given that Roefs has successfully prevented the opposition from scoring in 30 percent of his appearances this term, there is an encouraging hope within the camp that he can bridge the gap in the remaining matches.
His arrival for an initial fee of around £9million from the Eredivisie last summer is increasingly viewed as a masterstroke of recruitment, with his market value having soared following a string of decisive saves against the league’s elite.
Sunderland clean sheet record in the Premier League
| Goalkeeper | Clean sheets | Season |
| Thomas Sørensen |
12
|
2000-01
|
| Costel Pantilimon |
11
|
2014-15
|
| Vito Mannone |
11
|
2013-14
|
| Simon Mignolet |
11
|
2012-13
|
| Simon Mignolet |
11
|
2011-12
|
| Thomas Sørensen |
10
|
2001-02
|
| Robin Roefs |
9
|
2025-26
|
Sunderland have just five Premier League matches remaining, meaning that Roefs would have to keep three clean sheets in those games to equal Sorensen’s record.
Elite suitors monitor Roefs following breakthrough campaign
The goalkeeper’s rise has not gone unnoticed by the division’s wealthiest clubs, with both Tottenham and Chelsea understood to be monitoring his situation closely.
Reports suggest that scouts from the London duo have been regular fixtures at Sunderland matches throughout 2026, impressed by his composure and shot-stopping ability under intense pressure.
While the player remains focused on the club’s immediate top-flight future, the prospect of a high-profile move in the summer transfer window is becoming a major point of speculation.
“For me, it’s not really time to think about these things like moving or any rumours,” Roefs said earlier this month. “As long as I don’t know anything about it, I just keep on going. The way we are building here is just really, really amazing. I think being promoted and performing really well, I think we can only build on that. Let’s hope next season we can continue like this.”