The lowdown on Bart Verbruggen

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Dutch keeper joined us on a five-year contract on Monday.

Richie Mills

2023-07-04T08:36:00Z

Bart Verbruggen joined us on a five-year deal.

New signing Bart Verbruggen is a “big talent” and the young goalkeeper has a lot of potential.

That is according to Belgium-based newspaper Het Nieuwsblad journalist Jürgen Geril, who believes the Dutchman can slot in nicely at the Albion following his move from Anderlecht on a five-year deal on Monday.

The 6ft 4in stopper began the 2022/23 campaign in the Belgian team’s reserves but ended it as their first choice and scooped the Player of the Season award despite having to wait to play in the Jupiler Pro League until Boxing Day.

After displacing Hendrik Van Crombrugge in goal, the 20-year-old kept eight clean sheets in 17 league appearances, had a save percentage of 76, and starred in Europa Conference League knockout stage wins over Ludogorets and Villarreal. This, and more, is why he is a rising star of the game, says Geril.

“He is a big talent with a lot of potential,” he said, having closely followed Verbruggen’s progress since he joined Anderlecht from NAC Breda in 2020. “He is tall, athletic, has good reflexes, and is very comfortable with the ball at his feet.

“Verbruggen was Anderlecht’s best player last season and was exceptional against Ludogorets, where he saved three penalties in the shoot-out, and in the second leg win at Villarreal he was unbeatable. He played for the Netherlands under-21s this summer in the Euros but it is just a matter of time before he will be the senior team's first-choice keeper."

Verbruggen may not have enjoyed this meteoric rise without the help of Manchester City legend and current Burnley manager Vincent Kompany.

The former Manchester City centre-back, and Dutch goalkeeping coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar, played a big role in bringing him to Anderlecht from NAC in 2020 when Kompany became manager, and a year later the then-18-year-old was handed his professional debut.

Kompany identified Verbruggen as an excellent ball-playing keeper, something Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi demands from his goalkeepers.

“Kompany wanted a keeper who was very good with his feet – that was a key part of how he wanted his style of play to be constructed,” said Geril.

Bart Verbruggen clearly enjoyed acting in his announcement video, which you can watch below.

“Kompany and coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar knew Verbruggen was a good, young goalkeeper at NAC, where he never played for the first team, and they signed him for just €300,000 (£257,000).

“It took some time, but after a couple of years he got his chance to shine. Kompany really believed in him. Burnley tried to sign Verbruggen last summer Anderlecht refused. Now, his value has shot up enormously.”

Despite being in the early stages of his professional career, with the youngster turning 21 next month, Geril believes he has leadership qualities beyond his years.

The Dutch under-21 international was very vocal among his Anderlecht teammates but also learned a lot from 36-year-old and former Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen. However, Geril points out he is not the finished article, but that when he is he will be some player.

“He is quite good at everything. He is still young but he is not afraid to talk in the dressing room, so there are early signs of leadership already. At Anderlecht they have quite a young team but he was keen to push his teammates forward,” he said.

“He was also very close with Jan Vertonghen. They are very good friends. They drove every day to Anderlecht. He learned a lot from him and Vertonghen is a real leader there. Maybe he could improve his ability to claim high balls from crosses but he will learn very fast in a physical league like in England.”

Verbruggen, who received his first call-up to the Netherlands senior squad in March this year, felt the Sussex side was the “perfect” fit for him as their approach to the game plays into his strengths.

Geril predicted there may be some nervous moments at the back when Verbruggen tries to lure in the opposition's attack but the overall benefits of his game outweigh the risks.

“Verbruggen will be a good fit there [with Albion]. He is very at ease with the ball, the way he plays means he may do something wrong one or two times a season, such as a misplaced pass that will lead to a goal because he is taking too much time or is taking a risk,” he said.

“However, it will also be a crucial pass that he gives through the lines to start a new attack and that is an advantage – and that is what Kompany said.

“A keeper can take some risks and maybe the team will pay for that two or three times a season but so many times it will lead to a crucial attack or a goal and they are willing to take that risk. And that is typical Bart Verbruggen.”