Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen made his Premier League debut in the club’s 3-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday afternoon in place of usual starter Ederson, who was forced to isolate himself as a result of the coronavirus epidemic at the club.
Steffen has made three appearances in the Carabao Cup this season, as well as the last Champions League group game against Porto.
Even if Ederson were available, there’s a good chance Steffen will play the next FA Cup game against Birmingham anyway, but he will now keep his place as long as the Brazilian stays away.
Steffen is American, growing up in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, about 40 miles from Philadelphia.
He started his career in the junior ranks of a local football club, before later being taken under the wing of the US Soccer Development Academy. After that, Steffen was recruited to play college football for the University of Maryland.
He spent a year in Germany with the Freiburg Reserve team in 2015/16, before returning to the United States and making a name for himself in MLS with Columbus Crew starting in 2017.
The 25-year-old made 19 appearances for the United States National Team, but continued to share the gloves with several other goaltenders rather than securing a regular starting spot.
Steffen was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year for the 2018 season, which prompted Manchester City to sign him to a contract worth an estimated $ 7 million – a record amount for a goalkeeper in the MLS – in December after the MLS campaign ends.
However, Steffen did not complete the move to Manchester right away in the January transfer window and remained with Columbus Crew for the first half of the 2019 MLS season until July. He then completed his transfer to City, although it was immediately confirmed that he would be spending the 2019/20 season on loan with Fortuna Düsseldorf in Germany.
It was only after City released Claudio Bravo in 2020 that Steffen returned to the Etihad Campus and was installed as the club’s main support at Ederson.
Upon his return to Manchester City in 2020, Steffen was awarded the number 13 shirt. He became the first player to wear it since former second-choice goalkeeper Willy Caballero left in 2017. This despite the keeps City’s number one jersey vacant as well.
Steffen once wore number 23 for Columbus Crew and often wears number one for the USMNT.
MLS salary data confirms that Steffen was paid $ 145,000 for the 2018 MLS season. After his breakout year, this was upgraded to a $ 260,000 contract for the 2019 campaign – although he left mid-season to join Manchester City.
Premier League salaries are not officially disclosed as they are in MLS, but Steffen is now estimated to earn the equivalent of over $ 1 million per season with City and not far from 10 times his 2018 salary with Columbus Crew. His current salary is estimated at around £ 15,000 per week.
Zack Steffen is ranked 76 on FIFA 21 and is a rare gold card if you want to pick him up on Ultimate Team. His reflexes are his best attribute, rated at 83, but diving, handling, kicking and positioning are all rated at least above 70.
In FIFA 21 career mode, Steffen has the potential to become an 82-ranked goalkeeper.
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