Esteban Alvarado is one of the most experienced goalkeepers in Costa Rican football history.
With a career spanning Europe’s top leagues and his homeland’s Liga FPD, Alvarado has built a steady financial profile over 17+ professional years.
This article covers Esteban Alvarado’s net worth, his salary, contract details, career earnings, and the key milestones that shaped his financial journey.
Esteban Alvarado’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Esteban Alvarado Brown |
| Date of Birth | April 28, 1989 |
| Age | 37 years old |
| Nationality | Costa Rican |
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
| Current Club | Deportivo Saprissa (Liga FPD) |
| Turned Professional | 2008 |
| Kit Supplier | Nike |
| Player Agent | Hy Sports Agency |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1.5 million |
| Current Contract | Jan 2023 – Jun 2027 |
Early Life & Career
Esteban Alvarado Brown was born on April 28, 1989, in Siquirres, Costa Rica. He is of Jamaican descent — a heritage that reflects the culturally diverse Caribbean coast region of Costa Rica where he grew up.
As a child, Alvarado actually played as a striker, not a goalkeeper. He switched positions at age fourteen, a decision that would go on to define his entire professional life.
He began his youth career at Santos de Guápiles before joining the academy of Deportivo Saprissa, one of Costa Rica’s biggest clubs. His talent in goal caught the eye of coaches quickly.
By November 2009, Alvarado made his senior debut for Saprissa in a 3–1 win over Municipal Liberia — and by December of that same year, Dutch Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar had already agreed to sign him.
His international youth career was equally impressive. At the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Alvarado won the Golden Glove Award — given to the tournament’s best goalkeeper — cementing his status as one of Central America’s brightest young talents.
That individual honor drew European attention and fast-tracked his move abroad.
Professional Career
Alvarado moved to the Netherlands in July 2010 after signing a five-year contract with AZ Alkmaar.
His early months were difficult — his debut against PSV Eindhoven in February 2011 ended in a 4–0 loss, prompting his now-famous post-match quote: “Only Superman could have saved me.” But he responded with determination and became AZ’s first-choice goalkeeper for the next several seasons, according to his profile on Transfermarkt.
During the 2011–12 season, Alvarado made 34 league appearances and earned 15 clean sheets, also earning Goal.com’s Eredivisie Team of the Season recognition.
In 2012–13, he helped AZ win the KNVB Cup, beating PSV 2–1 in the final — his first major club trophy. He made 189 total appearances for AZ across all competitions.
In August 2015, Alvarado joined Trabzonspor in Turkey’s Süper Lig on a free transfer. His time there was disrupted by inconsistent playing time and a contract termination in December 2018.
After returning to Costa Rica in 2019, he had stints at Club Sport Herediano and Limón FC before rejoining Deportivo Saprissa in January 2023. His Saprissa contract runs through June 2027, per BeSoccer’s player profile.
At Saprissa, he returned to elite form — making 57 total appearances in the 2024–25 season alone.
Esteban Alvarado’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Esteban Alvarado’s has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.
He built this wealth through professional contracts across the Netherlands (AZ Alkmaar), Turkey (Trabzonspor), and Costa Rica (Saprissa, Herediano, Limón FC), along with kit supplier arrangements with Nike spanning his career.
Contract
Alvarado signed with Deportivo Saprissa on January 31, 2023, and his current contract runs through June 30, 2027. The contract was brokered through Hy Sports Agency, his long-standing player representation firm.
His current market value on Transfermarkt stands at €220,000 — a reflection of his age and the domestic league he competes in, not his overall career value. His peak market valuation reached €13.36 million in 2014 during his best years at AZ Alkmaar.
Salary
Alvarado’s current salary at Deportivo Saprissa is not publicly disclosed in detail, as Costa Rica’s Liga FPD does not publish official wage data.
During his time at Trabzonspor in the 2018–19 season, Capology’s salary database listed him as part of a squad with a total wage bill of approximately €20.18 million — with squad salaries averaging around €448,000 annually.
His individual Trabzonspor salary in his peak contract years was estimated in the range of €400,000–€500,000 per year based on transfer fee records.
Back in Costa Rica, Liga FPD salaries are considerably lower, typically ranging between $30,000–$80,000 per year for senior starting goalkeepers.
Career Earnings By Club
| Club | Years | Estimated Annual Earnings | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saprissa (1st stint) | 2008–2010 | ~$15,000/yr | ~$30,000 |
| AZ Alkmaar | 2010–2015 | ~€250,000–€450,000/yr | ~€1.5M–€2M |
| Trabzonspor | 2015–2018 | ~€400,000–€500,000/yr | ~€1.2M–€1.5M |
| Herediano | 2019–2023 | ~$40,000–$60,000/yr | ~$160,000–$240,000 |
| Limón FC | 2021 | ~$30,000/yr | ~$15,000 |
| Saprissa (2nd stint) | 2023–present | ~$50,000–$80,000/yr | ~$150,000–$240,000 |
Endorsements
Esteban Alvarado holds an active kit supplier arrangement with Nike, as confirmed by his contract details listed on BeSoccer’s official player profile.
This is consistent with his club, Deportivo Saprissa, which is also a Nike-kitted side — making the arrangement a natural fit at both the player and club level.
Kit supplier deals like this typically cover goalkeeper gloves, training gear, boots, and matchday kits, and while the financial terms are not publicly disclosed, these agreements provide meaningful value in the form of free equipment and modest commercial fees.
Career Statistics
| Club | League | Season | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saprissa | Liga FPD | 2009–10 | 4 | 0 |
| AZ Alkmaar | Eredivisie | 2010–15 | 134 | 0 |
| Trabzonspor | Süper Lig | 2015–19 | 20 | 0 |
| Herediano | Liga FPD | 2019–23 | 81 | 0 |
| Limón FC | Liga FPD | 2020–21 | 20 | 0 |
| Saprissa | Liga FPD | 2022–present | 55 | 0 |
| Career Total | All | — | 314 | 0 |
International Career
| National Team | Total Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica U-20 | 7 | 0 |
| Costa Rica (Senior) | 26 | 0 |
FAQs
What is Esteban Alvarado’s net worth?
Esteban Alvarado’s estimated net worth is $1.5 million. He built this through contracts at AZ Alkmaar, Trabzonspor, and Deportivo Saprissa, plus his Nike kit deal.
What club does Esteban Alvarado currently play for?
He plays for Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica’s Liga FPD. He re-signed with the club in January 2023, and his contract runs through June 2027.
What is Esteban Alvarado’s salary at Saprissa?
His exact Saprissa salary is not publicly disclosed. Based on Liga FPD wage norms for starting senior goalkeepers, his annual salary is estimated between $50,000 and $80,000.
What is Esteban Alvarado’s most notable career achievement?
He won the Golden Glove Award at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup as the tournament’s best goalkeeper. He also won the KNVB Cup with AZ Alkmaar in 2013.
Has Esteban Alvarado played for the Costa Rica national team?
Yes, he has earned 26 senior caps for Costa Rica since his debut in 2010. He also represented Costa Rica at the U-20 level, earning 7 caps and the Golden Glove in 2009.
