Robin Roefs, the £11.5 Million Goalkeeper Making Sunderland Forget Defoe
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- Robin Roefs menjadi kiper pertama Sunderland sejak 1973 yang mencatat clean sheet di kompetisi Eropa, mengalahkan AZ Alkmaar 1-0.
- Dibeli hanya £11,5 juta dari NEC Nijmegen, Roefs tampil lebih konsisten dibanding Enzo Le Fee yang berharga £19,3 juta.
- Dengan usia 23 tahun, Roefs berpotensi menjadi penjualan termahal Sunderland sekaligus mengubah cara klub kecil mengelola transfer.
Sunderland made long-awaited European history. Their 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar at the Stadium of Light early Thursday marked the Black Cats' first win in European competition since 1973 — and behind it stood a young Dutch goalkeeper bought at a price far below market value.
Robin Roefs, 23, recorded that historic clean sheet by denying 0.83 expected goals (xG) from the Eredivisie representative. He became the first Sunderland goalkeeper in 52 years to finish a European match without conceding. Yet, when he was brought in from NEC Nijmegen in the summer of 2025, he was only valued at £11.5 million — a figure that doesn't even place him among the club's ten most expensive transfers.
In comparison, Enzo Le Fee was permanently signed from AS Roma a year earlier for £19.3 million. The French attacking midfielder has indeed been the engine of Sunderland's attack: since the start of last season, he has scored eight goals, created 16 big chances, and contributed six assists across all competitions. These statistics place him as the best in the squad for all three categories.
However, there's a strong argument that Roefs is actually more valuable. His consistency between the sticks is far more stable compared to Le Fee, who often goes through periods of quiet contribution. In his debut Premier League season, Roefs immediately broke into the ranks of top goalkeepers: third for saves (109), fifth for penalties saved (one), and first for crosses claimed (45).
The decision to recruit Roefs was inseparable from manager Regis Le Bris' assessment. Although the scouting team identified names, it was Le Bris who determined who was worth buying with significant funds. European football writer, Adam Fulwell, even stated that "whoever signed Robin Roefs deserves a statue" because he considered the goalkeeper extraordinary.
"Whoever signed Robin Roefs deserves a statue. This goalkeeper is unbelievable," wrote Adam Fulwell, European football writer, last April.
For Sunderland, Roefs' presence is reminiscent of the Jermain Defoe era. The English striker was bought for £3 million from Toronto in January 2015 and scored 37 goals in 100 appearances, including 15 Premier League goals in two consecutive seasons. Defoe was the last icon considered the club's best signing. Now, Roefs is said to be worthy of a similar status — perhaps even better than Le Fee.
From a club business perspective, Roefs' profile is highly advantageous. He is still 23 years old, three years younger than Le Fee, and his price is almost £8 million cheaper. If his performance continues, Sunderland has the potential to sell him for a significant profit in the future — something rare for a goalkeeper at that price point.
For readers in Indonesia, Roefs' story offers valuable lessons about transfer efficiency. Liga 1 clubs often spend large sums on attacking players, while the goalkeeper position is frequently overlooked. Yet, a young goalkeeper with a low price and strong save data can become a long-term asset, both in terms of performance and resale value. A data-driven approach like Sunderland's could serve as a blueprint for club management in Indonesia aiming to compete at the Asian level.
Looking ahead, Roefs' challenge is to maintain consistency in domestic and European competitions. If he can lead Sunderland far in Europe and compete at the top of the Premier League, his status as the best signing since Defoe will become increasingly undeniable. The question is, will big clubs start queuing up for a goalkeeper bought for the price of a reserve player?
