Nigeria & Brighton star beats Chelsea & Man United GKs to top WSL rankings

Brighton goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has finished her first season in England on top with the crown for the division's save queen, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Super Falcons shot-stopper has been confirmed as the goalkeeper with the highest save percentage in the 2025/2026 Barclays Women's Super League (WSL).

The official league statistics showed that the Super Falcons goalkeeper recorded a save percentage of 74.7%, the best among all goalkeepers who made at least 10 league appearances during the season. It is a remarkable achievement for the Nigerian international, who joined Brighton & Hove Albion on a free transfer from French club Paris FC in July 2025.

Nnadozie narrowly beat Chelsea's Hannah Hampton, who finished second with 74.6%, while Manchester United's Phallon Tullis-Joyce placed third with 73.6%.

During her debut WSL campaign, the 24-year-old faced 83 shots on target across 19 league matches. She stopped 62 of those efforts, proving to be among the most reliable goalkeepers in England despite playing her first season in one of the world's toughest women's leagues.

Her performances also helped Brighton stay competitive against the division's strongest clubs. Nnadozie kept six clean sheets and prevented an estimated 3.3 goals as her ability to make difficult saves and keep her team in games shone bright.

Earlier in the season, she won the WSL Save of the Month award after producing a brilliant fingertip stop against Liverpool. That stunning moment also earned her a place on the shortlist for the league's Save of the Season award.

Nnadozie: A memorable debut season at Brighton

Nnadozie's first year at Brighton was about much more than individual statistics. Under head coach Dario Vidosic, she quickly established herself as the club's first-choice goalkeeper, starting 19 of Brighton's 22 league matches and playing 1,710 minutes.

Her commanding displays at the back played a major role in Brighton's impressive campaign, including the club's historic run to its first-ever Women's FA Cup final. At Wembley Stadium on May 3, Nnadozie produced another outstanding performance, making six important saves despite Brighton suffering a narrow defeat to Manchester City.

She also finished the league with the joint fourth-highest number of clean sheets as she showed she could consistently compete against England's biggest clubs week after week.

The impressive season added to an already successful year for the Nigerian goalkeeper. She was named CAF African Women's Goalkeeper of the Year for a record third straight time and finished fourth in the voting for the prestigious Yashin Trophy, the award reserved for the world's best goalkeeper.

Nnadozie has now shifted her attention from club football to international duty. She has linked up with the Super Falcons in Morocco, where Nigeria are preparing for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). After proving herself in the Women's Super League, the shot-stopper will hope to carry her excellent form into the continental tournament as Nigeria chase a record-extending 11th African title.