Matz Sels went from an unheralded Belgian goalkeeper to one of the Premier League’s most decorated shot-stoppers.
Here is everything you need to know about Matz Sels’ net worth — his salary, contract, career earnings, and the financial story behind his rise.
Matz Sels’ Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Matz Willy Els Sels |
| Date of Birth | 26 February 1992 |
| Age | 34 years old |
| Place of Birth | Lint, Belgium |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 75 kg (165 lbs) |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
| Current Club | Nottingham Forest (Premier League) |
| Shirt Number | 26 |
| Turned Professional | 2012 |
| Net Worth | £13 million (estimated) |
| Weekly Salary | £50,000 per week |
| Annual Salary | £2,600,000 per year |
| Contract Expiry | June 2027 |
| Wife | Joy Hoefman |
| Children | Two |
Early Life & Career
Matz Sels was born on 26 February 1992 in Lint, a small municipality in the Antwerp province of Belgium.
He grew up in a country with a deep passion for football, and the game became his obsession from a very young age.
He started his youth journey at local club Kontich FC in 1997 and moved to Lierse SK at just seven years old, where he would spend the next eleven years developing his craft.
At Lierse, Sels worked his way through every youth level before finally breaking into the first team in 2010. His real breakthrough came in the 2012–13 season when, after the departure of Japanese international Eiji Kawashima, Sels claimed the number one spot.
In his very first match in the Belgian top flight, on 29 July 2012 against Gent, he saved a penalty — a sign of the composed goalkeeper he was becoming.
His performances at Lierse attracted serious attention from bigger clubs. When he refused to sign a new contract at the start of the 2013–14 season, Lierse demoted him to the second team — but a move to a top-flight giant was already in motion.
His time at Lierse gave him 30 first-team league appearances and the foundation to compete at the highest level in Belgian football.
Professional Career
On 31 December 2013, KAA Gent announced the signing of Matz Sels, and his career shifted into a completely different gear.
He played a central role in helping Gent win the 2014–15 Belgian Pro League title — the first national championship in the club’s history — before starring in the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League campaign.
On his Champions League debut, he saved an Alexandre Lacazette penalty to secure a 1–1 draw against Lyon, a moment that put his name on the radar across Europe.
In January 2016, he was voted the Belgian Professional Goalkeeper of the Season, a well-earned recognition for his standout performances that year.
That award triggered a £6.5 million move to Premier League club Newcastle United in June 2016, as confirmed by Transfermarkt’s detailed transfer history.
His time at Newcastle proved difficult — he lost his place to Karl Darlow early in the season — and he spent the 2017–18 season on loan at Anderlecht in Belgium, where he helped the club win the Belgian Super Cup.
In July 2018, Sels signed for RC Strasbourg in Ligue 1 for £3.5 million. He spent six productive years in France, amassing 165 league appearances and winning the Coupe de la Ligue in 2018–19.
He also won the Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Season award in 2021–22, proving his ability to perform consistently at a high level.
On 1 February 2024, Nottingham Forest signed Sels for a reported £5 million — and his career instantly reached its peak.
Just one month into his Forest career, he won the Premier League Save of the Month for March 2024, becoming the first ever Nottingham Forest player to win a Premier League monthly award.
He followed that in 2024–25 by winning the Premier League Golden Glove — shared with Arsenal’s David Raya — after keeping 13 clean sheets, and earned spots in the PFA Team of the Year, the EA Sports FC Premier League Team of the Season, and The Athletic’s Premier League Team of the Season.
Wife
Matz Sels is married to Joy Hoefman, and the couple have two children together. Sels has kept his personal life largely private throughout his career.
His wife Joy has been a constant presence in his life as he moved across Belgium, France, and England, though Sels rarely discusses family matters in public.
Matz Sels’ Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Matz Sels’ has an estimated net worth of £13 million. He built this wealth through professional contracts spanning Belgian football, Ligue 1 with Strasbourg, and now the Premier League with Nottingham Forest, where his salary and status have both grown significantly.
Contract
In February 2024, Forest signed Sels on an initial contract that ran through to mid-2026 at £44,000 per week.
After a stellar debut season that culminated in a shared Premier League Golden Glove, the club moved quickly to extend his deal. Sels signed a new two-year contract extension with Nottingham Forest in mid-2025, which runs through to June 2027.
This extension came with improved financial terms, confirming the club’s trust in him as their long-term number one, according to BBC Sport’s coverage of the deal.
Salary
Under his current contract, Matz Sels earns £50,000 per week at Nottingham Forest, which translates to approximately £2.6 million per year (gross).
This is a significant raise from his original Forest deal of £44,000 per week — itself already a major jump from the less-than-£1 million annual salary he earned during his time at Strasbourg.
His salary now places him comfortably among the well-compensated Premier League goalkeepers, as reflected in Capology’s Premier League goalkeeper salary tracker and supported by data on SalarySport’s verified football earnings database.
Career Earnings by Year
| Season | Club | Weekly Wage | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | RC Strasbourg | £17,000 | £884,000 |
| 2023–24 | RC Strasbourg / Nottingham Forest | £44,000 | £2,288,000 |
| 2024–25 | Nottingham Forest | £44,000 | £2,288,000 |
| 2025–26 | Nottingham Forest | £50,000 | £2,600,000 |
Endorsements
Matz Sels holds a confirmed ambassador partnership with REAL GK, a specialist goalkeeper glove brand, as confirmed on REAL Gloves’ official ambassador page.
He has represented the brand since joining the Premier League and continues to wear REAL GK gloves throughout the 2025–26 season, as verified by Goalkeeper.com’s authoritative Premier League glove tracker.
On the boots front, Sels wears Nike Tiempo Legend 10 Elite cleats, placing him among Premier League players who trust Nike’s Heritage line for its clean touch and distribution feel, a detail noted by Pro:Direct Soccer’s Premier League boot study.
These equipment deals align with the standard sponsorship model for elite European goalkeepers, where personal kit partnerships supplement club-level commercial income.
Career Statistics
| Club | Seasons | League Apps | Total Apps | Honours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lierse SK | 2010–2014 | 30 | 31 | First Division B 2009–10 |
| KAA Gent | 2013–2016 | 69 | 116 | Belgian Pro League 2014–15, Belgian Super Cup 2015 |
| Newcastle United | 2016–2018 | 9 | 14 | EFL Championship 2016–17 |
| Anderlecht (loan) | 2017–2018 | 22 | 37 | Belgian Super Cup 2017 |
| RC Strasbourg | 2018–2024 | 165 | 176 | Coupe de la Ligue 2018–19 |
| Nottingham Forest | 2024–present | 76 | 87 | Premier League Golden Glove 2024–25 (shared) |
| Career Total | 371 | 461 |
Premier League Goalkeeping Record
| Season | Club | Appearances | Clean Sheets | Saves | Goals Conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Nottingham Forest | 16 | 2 | 38 | 25 |
| 2024–25 | Nottingham Forest | 37 | 13 | 120 | 46 |
| 2025–26 (partial) | Nottingham Forest | 23 | 2 | 47 | 24 |
FAQs
What is Matz Sels’ net worth?
Matz Sels has an estimated net worth of £13 million. He built his wealth through contracts at clubs including KAA Gent, Newcastle United, RC Strasbourg, and Nottingham Forest.
How much does Matz Sels earn per week at Nottingham Forest?
Matz Sels earns £50,000 per week at Nottingham Forest under his contract extension signed in 2025, which runs through to June 2027. That works out to approximately £2.6 million per year.
Has Matz Sels won the Premier League Golden Glove?
Yes, Sels won the Premier League Golden Glove at the end of the 2024–25 season, sharing the award with Arsenal’s David Raya after keeping 13 clean sheets for Nottingham Forest.
What clubs has Matz Sels played for in his career?
Sels has played for Lierse SK, KAA Gent, Newcastle United, Anderlecht (on loan), RC Strasbourg, and Nottingham Forest. His professional career began with Lierse in 2012 and he has played 461 total career appearances.
Is Matz Sels married?
Yes, Matz Sels is married to Joy Hoefman. The couple have two children together. Sels has kept his family life private throughout his professional career in Belgium, France, and England.
