Early career Born in
Bacău, Pantilimon started his career at
Aerostar Bacău and got his share of limelight at the
Romania national under-19 team before transferring to
Politehnica Timișoara on 1 February 2006, his 19th birthday.
Politehnica Timișoara Initially, Pantilimon was Timișoara's second-choice goalkeeper, behind
Marius Popa. In May 2008, however, the owner of the club,
Marian Iancu, transferred Popa to the second team, and Pantilimon took the pole position. He made his debut in the Romanian
Liga 1 against
Dinamo București, in March 2007. Pantilimon was part of the Timișoara team that defeated
UEFA Cup winners
Shakhtar Donetsk in the qualifying rounds of the
2009–10 Champions League campaign. He played all 90 minutes of each leg.
Manchester City on Manchester City's Premier League victory parade, May 2012 On 11 August 2011, Pantilimon joined
Manchester City on a one-year
loan deal from Politehnica Timișoara to act as cover for
Joe Hart following the departure of
Shay Given. Pantilimon's first start was a
League Cup win against holders
Birmingham City on 21 September 2011. His next match was on 26 October, against
Wolverhampton Wanderers in the same competition, where City fielded a second-string team, although still comprehensively won 5–2. Pantilimon got his next Manchester City start during the 1–0 League Cup quarter-final win against
Arsenal at the
Emirates Stadium. In the Arsenal match, he was named Man of the Match, making two saves in the first half. He started the third round of the
FA Cup against
Manchester United at the
City of Manchester Stadium on 8 January 2012, saving
Wayne Rooney's penalty but was unable to save the follow-up; Manchester City lost the game 3–2. Pantilimon's loan deal was made permanent for an undisclosed fee. He was contracted to City until 2016. During the
2012–13 FA Cup, he kept four clean sheets in a row and managed an outstanding performance against
Chelsea in the semi-final, conceding just one goal in five matches. In response to this performance, then City manager
Roberto Mancini immediately promised that the Romanian would keep his place when the team return to
Wembley Stadium to face
Wigan Athletic on 11 May. However, he was a substitute in the
final, with Joe Hart starting; Manchester City lost to Wigan 1–0. It was later revealed that Mancini had promised on the eve of the
FA Cup Final that the Romanian would play, but then deputed the goalkeeping coach on match day morning to say there had been a change of plan. Pantilimon was given his first start of the
2013–14 season for City in the
Football League Cup third-round match at home to Wigan on 24 September 2013, which City won 5–0; manager
Manuel Pellegrini praised him for keeping a clean sheet. Five weeks later, Pantilimon was also selected to start in the next League Cup match away to
Newcastle United on 30 October; once again, he conceded no goals, as City won 2–0 and progressed to the last eight of the competition. Three days later, he made his
Premier League debut at home to
Norwich City, keeping his third clean sheet in a row in an emphatic 7–0 victory. On 7 November 2013, he started in
Champions League game against
CSKA Moscow that ended in City winning 5–2. He started his second Premier League game on 10 November 2013 away against
Sunderland that ended in a 0–1 defeat. On 2 March 2014, Pantilimon started for Manchester City in the
2014 League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. The team won 3–1 against Sunderland with goals from
Yaya Touré,
Samir Nasri and
Jesús Navas. Overall, Pantilimon made seven appearances during the
2013–14 Premier League season, keeping three clean sheets as Manchester City won a second league title in three years. He was also the team's first-choice goalkeeper for their League Cup and
FA Cup matches.
Sunderland On 16 June 2014, Pantilimon joined
Sunderland on a
free transfer from Manchester City. On 27 August, he made his first appearance for the club in the second round of the
League Cup second round against Birmingham City, keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 win at
St Andrew's. Pantilimon started the season as back-up for
Vito Mannone, but after poor performances in an 8–0 loss to
Southampton and a 2–0 loss to Arsenal, the Italian was subsequently dropped and Pantilimon made his Premier League debut for Sunderland in a 3–1 win at
Crystal Palace on 3 November 2014, thus becoming the club's first choice keeper for the rest of the season. He started the next season as first choice before losing his place to Mannone, eventually dropping to third choice behind
Jordan Pickford.
Watford On 19 January 2016, Pantilimon joined Premier League rivals
Watford on a three-and-a-half-year deal, for an undisclosed fee. He made his first appearance for the Hornets on 30 January in their FA Cup fourth-round victory at
Nottingham Forest. He also started the game in the fifth round against
Leeds United. He kept clean sheets in both games. He made his Premier League debut for the Hornets in a forgettable 6–1 defeat at
Liverpool on 6 November 2016, after
Heurelho Gomes was injured during the first half. On 1 September 2017, Pantilimon joined
La Liga club
Deportivo La Coruña on a one-year loan from Watford, lasting until 20 May 2018. The long-term absence of first-choice keeper
Rubén, who suffered a hand injury in training, prompted the signing. Pantilimon made his debut for the
Galicians against
Real Betis on 16 September. The following week, Pantilimon picked up his first clean sheet, coming in a 1–0 win over
Alavés.
Nottingham Forest On 31 January 2018, Pantilimon left Spain to return to England and sign on loan for
EFL Championship side Nottingham Forest until the end of the 2017–18 season. He made his full début away at
Fulham on 3 February. He made his home début against
Hull City the following week, He made the
English Football League's Team of the Week after producing a clean sheet at
Burton Albion when Forest were reduced to ten men for much of the match on 17 February. On 3 July 2018, Pantilimon signed a three-year deal with Forest. On 30 January 2020, Pantilimon was loaned to
Cypriot First Division side
Omonia for the remainder of the season.
Denizlispor On 4 September 2020, Pantilimon joined Turkish
Süper Lig side
Denizlispor following a mutual termination of his contract at Nottingham Forest. ==International career==