Liverpool pay €35 million for 18-year-old Belgian goalkeeper dubbed the ‘new Thibaut Courtois’

Liverpool have secured one of Belgium’s most highly rated young goalkeepers, paying Genk £30 million, about €35 million, for 18-year-old Lucca Brughmans. The goalkeeper signed a six-year contract with the English club but will remain at Genk for the entire 2026-27 campaign.

Liverpool confirmed that Brughmans will continue playing in Belgium after making his first-team debut in April and establishing himself as Genk’s starter. He will join the English side permanently the following season.

Brughmans stands nearly two metres tall and came through Genk’s academy, the same club where Thibaut Courtois began his professional career. His performances have already prompted comparisons with Courtois. Brughmans captained Belgium at the 2025 European Under-17 Championship and Under-17 World Cup, and now wears the armband for the under-19 team.

The transfer represents a major investment in Liverpool’s future goalkeeping options. The squad currently includes Alisson Becker, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman and Vitezslav Jaros. Alisson’s contract ends after the season, while Mamardashvili did not fully convince when he replaced the Brazilian during last season’s injury absence. Brughmans played 32 matches for Genk’s reserve side before moving into the senior squad and has started his club’s first four matches of the current season.