Liverpool agreed a long-term deal for goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans from KRC Genk on 1 September 2026, with the 18-year-old set to spend the current 2026-27 season on loan at Genk before moving to Merseyside next summer.

The package could rise to £30m ($41m) with add-ons and covers a six-year contract. Alisson Becker’s Liverpool deal expires in the summer of 2027, and Brughmans has been earmarked as the long-term successor to the Brazilian.

Bayern were never chasing him

A TEAMtalk report suggesting Bayern Munich had been outmanoeuvred by Liverpool prompted a rebuttal from Christian Falk, BILD’s chief football reporter.

“It is NOT TRUE: Bayern Munich were interested in Lucca Brughmans,” Falk told TEAMtalk.

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“He’s an interesting player but Bayern already has interesting players in this position.”

Manuel Neuer and Jonas Urbig are sharing minutes in the Bayern goal this season.

Arsenal and Real Madrid were the real rivals

TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey reported that Liverpool’s genuine competition for Brughmans came from Real Madrid and Arsenal, with a clear pathway into the first team tipping the balance towards Anfield. Real Madrid’s interest was also flagged by ESPN.

Brughmans, whose stated idol is Thibaut Courtois, has drawn lofty comparisons. Dutch football pundit Johan Boskamp, quoted by FootballTransfers, reached for the highest possible reference.

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“Perhaps the greatest Belgian goalkeeping talent since Thibaut Courtois. He has everything: height, speed, and good footwork,” Boskamp said.

“A very special moment for me”

Brughmans, who captained Belgium at the U17 European Championship and World Cup in 2025 and now leads the U19 squad, addressed the move in comments carried by Yahoo Sports.

“This is a very special moment for me. Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world. As a young goalkeeper, you dream of one day getting such an opportunity.”

“I will stay in Genk this season with full focus and want to give everything for the club.”

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Alisson’s contract runs down in 2027

Alisson’s Liverpool contract expires in the summer of 2027, the same window in which Brughmans is due to arrive on Merseyside. Giorgi Mamardashvili had been the presumed heir but is set to stay at Anfield as backup this season, his own future beyond the current campaign now uncertain.

Brughmans holds the No. 1 shirt at Genk and has started the club’s opening Belgian Pro League fixtures of the new season.

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