Bart Verbruggen: Brighton sign Anderlecht goalkeeper for £16.3m
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Bart Verbruggen helped the Netherlands to three draws at the Under-21 Euros, which was not enough to send them into the knockout stages
Brighton have signed Netherlands Under-21s goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen from Anderlecht for £16.3m.
The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract and becomes the Seagulls' fourth major signing of the summer.
The 6ft 4in keeper started last season playing for Anderlecht's reserve side but ended it as their number one.
He was named the Belgian club's player of the season for 2022-23 and received his first call-up to the senior Netherlands squad in March.
This summer Brighton have already signed Brazil forward Joao Pedro from Watford, Liverpool's James Milner, and Germany midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud from Borussia Dortmund.
The Seagulls have lost Argentine World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool, while Ecuador defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo has been strongly linked with a move away from Amex Stadium.
Brighton head coach Roberto de Zerbi said: "I am very pleased to have signed Bart. He is used to playing a type of football similar to ours and he will have no problem fitting into our group.
"He has the potential to become a very important player for the club in the coming years."
Meanwhile, Verbruggen's compatriot Joel Veltman signed a new two-year contract with Albion.
The Netherlands defender, 31, has made 106 appearances for the club since joining from Ajax in 2020.
Verbruggen, who is yet to make his debut for the Dutch senior side, has just played at the European Under-21 Championship in Romania and Georgia.
He started his career at hometown club NAC Breda before moving to Anderlecht for a fee of 300,000 euros (£257,000) in 2020.
After breaking into their first team in December, Verbruggen made 17 appearances in the Belgian Pro League, helping Anderlecht to an 11th-placed finish and the Europa Conference League quarter-finals.
Ability with ball at his feet is a key asset - analysis
Johnny Cantor, BBC Radio Sussex
Verbruggen certainly looks to be an exciting addition for Brighton. Like so many signings, he is one for the future, but he could feature next season as understudy to or competition for Jason Steele.
The 20-year-old heads to Amex Stadium after an impressive European Championship with the Netherlands' Under-21s, but Albion have been admirers for some time.
His ability with the ball at his feet is one of the key assets that means he should fit in well with how head coach De Zerbi wants to play.
However, his arrival does increase the uncertainty around the future of Robert Sanchez, who lost his place to Steele during last season.
Clubs have been monitoring the Spaniard's situation and the signing of Verbruggen raises the possibility that he has played his last game for the Albion.
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