Brighton Sign Dutch Keeper Verbruggen

Dutch international Bart Verbruggen has joined Premier League side Brighton Hove Albion from Belgian club Anderlecht.

The fee is believed to be in the region of 16.3 million pounds, plus add-ons, and the 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Seagulls.

Verbruggen is a Netherlands Under-21 international and has been capped four times by his country at youth level. He is a 6ft 9in goalkeeper and has been praised for his shot-stopping abilities and his command of the penalty area.

The move to Brighton represents a step up for Verbruggen, who has been playing in the Belgian First Division A with Anderlecht. He helped his former club to win the Belgian Super Cup in 2021 and was named the Belgian Young Player of the Year for the 2020-21 season.

Verbruggen will compete with Robert Sanchez for the number one spot at Brighton. Sanchez has been in impressive form for the Seagulls this season and helped them to finish ninth in the Premier League last season.

The signing of Verbruggen shows that Brighton are ambitious and are looking to push on next season. They have already made a number of signings this summer, including Deniz Undav from Union SG and Julio Enciso from Libertad.