Genk (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Liverpool has taken decisive action to sign one of the youngest goalkeepers who have shown huge potential in Europe, as the English giants have reached an agreement with KRC Genk of Belgium for £30 million in exchange for 18-year-old Lucca Brughmans. The deal has been labeled as a “here we go” moment by popular transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
What Is the Structure of the Brughmans Deal?
The main part of the deal relates to a payment in the vicinity of £30 million (€35 million), according to sources who reveal that the guaranteed sum will be approximately €33 million, along with additional €2 million for performance. The financial aspect of the deal has already been agreed upon orally by both Liverpool and Genk but the transfer itself depends on Brughmans passing the medical test before the deadline.
Notably, the young player is not going to move to Anfield right away but is going to play for the Belgian team during the season of 2026-27 before joining Liverpool in summer 2027.
Who Is Lucca Brughmans and Why the Hype?
Measuring 6 ft 7 in, Brughmans is the kind of goalkeeper that modern football clubs aspire to sign owing to not only his physical attributes but also because he comes with immense experience having played an extraordinarily large number of games at the senior level despite his age. Brughmans has been nurtured in the youth teams of Kalmthout, FC Beigem, and Royal Antwerp before moving to PSV Eindhoven and then to Genk in 2019.
Having started training with the first team of Genk at 15, Brughmans debuted professionally at the age of 16 and by August 2026, he had played about 43 games in the senior squad, which is quite an accomplishment for any teenaged player playing as a goalkeeper. In the ongoing season, Brughmans has played in the first three games of Genk while having made nine appearances in the previous season.
How Does This Fit Liverpool’s Goalkeeper Strategy?
The largest signing made by Liverpool in terms of the goalkeeper position is the acquisition of Alisson Becker in July 2018 for around £66.8 million. This transfer has revolutionized the game of the Reds’ backline and brought the club much success in terms of trophies.
However, in recent years, the club has lost some of their second-choice keepers with one of the latest being Caoimhín Kelleher, who left for Brentford in a transfer rumored to cost about £18 million plus add-ons. On the other hand, Giorgi Mamardashvili, signed by Liverpool as an understudy, has been reportedly attracting some interest from Nottingham Forest and other clubs of the Premier League.
How Does This Compare to Other Young Goalkeeper Deals?
Though £30 million for a teenager in the goalkeeping position might be unprecedented, there is evidence that the market is willing to pay such big money for young shot-stoppers. For instance, Newcastle United were reportedly just shy of a £30 million deal for Braga’s Lukáš Horníček.
This example highlights the potential for deals between £25 million and £30 million in regards to premium talent from under-23 age groups. During the 2025/26 season, there were numerous examples of goalkeepers under the age of 23 who had market values ranging from £15 million to £30 million, like Robin Roefs (£28 million) and James Trafford (£25 million). The Liverpool case is right up there at the top end of the scale, though.
