David Raya’s Save of the Season Nomination

David Raya’s flying fingertip stop against Brighton & Hove Albion has earned him a place on the shortlist for the Premier League’s Save of the Season award, a fitting nod to a campaign in which he already claimed the Golden Glove.

The moment came in December, in a tight 2-1 home win over the Seagulls. Brighton were pushing, the game threatening to tilt, when Yankubah Minteh shaped a curling effort towards the top left corner. It looked perfect. The trajectory, the whip, the placement – everything screamed goal.

Raya tore across his line. One explosive step, full stretch to his right, and the slightest touch of his outstretched right hand changed everything. The ball, destined for the angle, was diverted away, the danger gone in an instant. The save didn’t just keep the scoreline intact; it underlined why he has been one of the league’s standout goalkeepers.

That stop earned him December’s Save of the Month award, taking him level at the top of the all-time leaderboard for that accolade. He now sits alongside Andre Onana and Jordan Pickford, with all three goalkeepers having claimed the monthly honour three times.

Save of the Season Nominations

Now comes the bigger stage. For the Premier League’s Save of the Season prize, Raya faces a strong field. James Trafford and Gianluigi Donnarumma are both nominated for Manchester City, Martin Dubravka represents Burnley, while Jordan Pickford’s work for Everton again catches the eye. Alphonse Areola (West Ham United), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), Karl Darlow (Leeds United) and Antonin Kinsky (Tottenham Hotspur) complete a list stacked with specialists in the art of denial.

Raya’s year has already been gilded by the Golden Glove. If that December fingertip intervention is judged the best of the lot, it will mark another line in a season that keeps pushing his reputation higher.