Liverpool sign 'greatest talent' in 'brilliantly negotiated' deal

Updated: 5 Sept 2026 15:56 BST | 4 min read

Tom Weber | Writer

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Liverpool have been told that they have secured Belgium's next Thibaut Courtois with their deal to sign Genk wonderkid Lucca Brughmans.

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The Reds announced the acquisition of the 18-year-old on Deadline Day, with Brughmans arriving in a transfer worth up to €35 million. The goalkeeper was then immediately loaned back to Genk to continue his development in a familiar environment.

The captain of Belgium's U18s and U19s, Brughmans has already made 15 senior appearances for Genk, which is remarkable for a goalkeeper of his age. He won the starting job in the latter stages of last season and has not relinquished it.

The youngster has started all of Genk's games this season, but the Belgian side's defence has been anything but stable so far. Prior to last week's 4-0 win over Beveren, they had conceded eight goals in just three games.

Nevertheless, Brughmans is regarded as a huge talent, and Liverpool will be hoping that he keeps his place as Genk's No.1. After all, €35m is anything but a trifling fee for a teenager.

A deal that suits all parties

According to former Netherlands international Johan Boskamp, Liverpool's deal for Brughmans is one that suits all parties. The Reds get a huge talent in the future, Genk have received a massive sum of money and the teenager gets regular game time at a crucial stage in his development.

"I think KRC Genk negotiated quite well," Boskamp told HBVL. "They cash in €35m and get to use him for another year. This is also the best solution for Brughmans himself. At this age, he simply has to play. That would have been difficult at Liverpool."

Boskamp is bullish about the wonderkid and believes that he can succeed Alisson as Liverpool's No.1, potentially as early as next year when the Brazilian's contract is due to expire. The 33-year-old could have already left this summer amid interest from Juventus, but the deal was blocked.

Asked whether he believes that Brughmans will stay at Liverpool next season, Boskamp said: "That is very likely, because Becker’s contract expires then. I have been following Brughmans since his youth and I think he is a really good goalkeeper.

"Perhaps the greatest Belgian goalkeeping talent since Thibaut Courtois. He has everything: height, speed, and good footwork. €35m is a lot of money, but I do think Liverpool has made a good deal. I truly believe that Brughmans will become the future goalkeeper of the national team."

For a country of Belgium's size, it is remarkable how many good goalkeepers it is producing. Courtois has been one of the best shot-stoppers of his generation and the Red Devils' undisputed No.1 for years.

However, three different goalkeepers are beginning to stake their claim for his crown. Man Utd star Senne Lammens is the most experienced at 24 and the heir apparent, although he endured a disastrous World Cup debut this summer.

Mike Penders, 21, is also in the frame, but he could lose valuable ground this season as Chelsea have refused to place their trust in him and signed Emiliano Martinez as a replacement for Robert Sanchez.

Then there is Brughmans, who will see plenty of action this term, barring any unexpected twist. Despite being the youngest of the three, the 18-year-old does not have the highest potential, at least according to data analytics firm SciSports.

The experts suggest that Penders still has a higher ceiling than Brughmans. Lammens, meanwhile, is believed to be the worst long-term option of the three, but he is the most refined goalkeeper right now.

It will be fascinating to see who wins the battle for the Belgium starting spot in the years to come. What's already obvious, though, is that Liverpool have secured a hugely exciting signing.