Brighton secures the services of Bart Verbruggen, Anderlecht’s talented goalkeeper, in a £16.3m deal
Brighton Sign Young Dutch Talent Bart Verbruggen for £16.3m
In a surprising move, Brighton & Hove Albion have secured the services of highly-rated Netherlands Under-21s goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen. The 20-year-old shot-stopper arrives from Anderlecht in a deal worth an impressive £16.3m.
Verbruggen made quite the impact last season, initially starting with Anderlecht’s reserve side before earning himself a place as their number one goalkeeper. His outstanding performances didn’t go unnoticed, as he was named the Belgian club’s player of the season for 2022-23.
The young Dutch talent even received his first call-up to the senior Netherlands squad in March this year, highlighting his rapid rise within the footballing world.
This marks Brighton’s fourth major signing during this summer transfer window. They have already added firepower up front with Brazil forward Joao Pedro joining from Watford and experienced midfielder James Milner arriving from Liverpool. Additionally, they bolstered their midfield options by securing Germany international Mahmoud Dahoud from Borussia Dortmund.
The Seagulls did suffer some departures as well; World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister moved to Liverpool and there are strong rumors surrounding Ecuadorian defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo potentially leaving Amex Stadium.
Brighton head coach Roberto de Zerbi expressed his satisfaction with Verbruggen’s arrival: “I am very pleased to have signed Bart. He is familiar with playing a style of football similar to ours and I believe he will seamlessly fit into our squad. I see great potential in him and expect him to become an integral player for the club in the years to come.”
In other news, Verbruggen’s compatriot Joel Veltman has committed his future to Brighton by signing a new two-year contract with the club. The 31-year-old defender joined Albion from Ajax back in 2020 and has since made over 100 appearances.
Verbruggen’s career trajectory has been impressive so far. He began at hometown club NAC Breda before making the switch to Anderlecht for a fee of €300,000 (£257,000) in 2020. After breaking into their first team midway through last season, he went on to feature in 17 Belgian Pro League matches, helping Anderlecht secure an 11th-placed finish as well as reach the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League.
An Exciting Prospect for Brighton
The arrival of Bart Verbruggen undoubtedly adds excitement to Brighton’s roster. Though considered a player for the future like many signings, he could potentially make an impact next season as either backup or competition for current goalkeeper Jason Steele.
Verbruggen showcased his talent during this summer’s European Under-21 Championship while representing the Netherlands’ national team. His ability with ball distribution aligns perfectly with head coach De Zerbi’s preferred style of play.
However, Verbruggen’s arrival raises questions about Robert Sanchez’s future at Albion. The Spanish shot-stopper lost his starting position last season to Steele and clubs have been monitoring his situation closely ever since.