Liverpool beat Real Madrid to shock signing: 'I never saw it coming'

Updated: 16 Sept 2026 23:23 BST | 4 min read

Tom Weber | Writer

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Liverpool's signing of Genk wonderkid Lucca Brughmans came as a surprise this summer, and even the Belgian club's sporting director has now admitted that he "didn't see it coming."

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The 18-year-old has been one of the breakout talents in the Jupiler Pro League in recent months. Despite his youth, Brughmans became Genk's starting goalkeeper towards the end of last season, and he has refused to relinquish his position ever since.

The teenager has already made 17 senior appearances for the Belgian outfit, who are currently unbeaten in five matches, although they have only won twice. Brughmans has conceded just one goal in the past three games.

On Deadline Day this summer, Liverpool announced that they had wrapped up a deal for the Belgian youth international and agreed to loan him back to Genk for the season.

The most eye-catching aspect of this transfer was that the Reds agreed to pay up to €35 million for the youngster, making Brughmans one of the most expensive goalkeepers of all time.

Liverpool transfer shocked Genk

With long-time No.1 Alisson out of contract next season, Brughmans has been tipped for a role in Liverpool's first team next season. Genk, for their part, are trying to protect the teenager from the spotlight after his "life-changing" transfer.

The club's sporting director, Dimitri de Conde, has now lifted the lid on how this transfer came about. He revealed that Brughmans had previously toured Real Madrid's facilities and admitted that Liverpool's sudden interest came as a surprise.

Speaking to HLN, De Conde said that his first reaction to Liverpool's offer was, "Oh boy, what now?" He feared that Brughmans' move could disrupt Genk's preparations for their ensuing clash with Anderlecht and put the youngster under unnecessary pressure.

Those fears were quickly allayed, however. "Seeing how Lucca performed at Anderlecht, and I’m not just talking about those two fantastic saves, but also his presence and his post-match interviews," De Conde stated.

"I knew he was on the radar of top clubs, that he’d even visited Real Madrid, and that he was one of the lads we hoped to get a handsome fee for at some point, to ensure the club’s survival. But for it to happen that quickly, and for that amount. I never saw it coming!"

With Liverpool's first offer exceeding expectations, negotiations weren't really necessary, De Conde explained. "To people saying ‘It’s fantastic what De Conde achieved regarding Lucca’s transfer' - sorry, but that’s not the case.

"Ultimately, I got a call from his agency at 11 am on a Sunday, two days before the English transfer window closed. 'Liverpool are serious. This is the offer.' And the very next morning, Lucca was on the plane to Liverpool.

"I do take credit for the fact that we, as a club, chose that path," he added. "I don’t pick the starting lineup - let’s be clear about that - but at a certain point, we gave Lucca his chance."

The decision to put their faith in an 18-year-old goalkeeper has paid off handsomely, more so than De Conde could have imagined in his wildest dreams.