Liverpool near €33m deal for Genk teenage goalkeeper Brughmans
Liverpool are close to signing 18-year-old goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans from Genk for a fee of around €33 million plus add-ons. The teenager is expected to return to Genk on loan for the upcoming season, contingent on the future of Liverpool's backup keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. Brughmans has impressed with Genk's first team and captained Belgium's youth sides.
Brughmans has already logged 15 senior appearances for Genk, including all four league matches this season, and captained Belgium’s U-17, U-18, and U-19 sides. His development mirrors the club’s goalkeeper pipeline that produced Thibaut Courtois, and he wears the same No. 28 shirt Courtois wore at Genk. The proposed loan-back hinges on whether Giorgi Mamardashvili leaves Liverpool before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, with Alisson entering the final year of his contract.
The €33m fixed fee plus €2m in add-ons would make Brughmans one of the most expensive teenage goalkeepers ever. His contract extension to 2030, signed just after turning 18, underscores Genk’s valuation. Liverpool’s goalkeeping depth includes Freddie Woodman and Vitezslav Jaros, while Armin Pecsi is on loan, suggesting the club is planning long-term succession at the position.
This deal could signal a broader shift in how elite clubs approach goalkeeper succession, prioritizing teenage talent with leadership experience over proven veterans. For Liverpool, securing Brughmans may ease transition concerns as Alisson ages, potentially stabilizing the position for a decade. For Genk, the fee reinforces their academy’s global reputation, possibly influencing youth development investment across Belgium. Fans and rival clubs may see this as a benchmark for young keeper valuations, affecting future transfer negotiations and squad planning strategies.