Liverpool signs Lucca Brughmans from Genk for £30M package

Liverpool has confirmed the signing of Lucca Brughmans from KRC Genk, bringing in the 18-year-old Belgian goalkeeper on a six-year contract in a deal worth approximately £30 million including add-ons. The teenager will stay at Genk on loan for the 2026/27 season before making the move to Anfield.

The profile: 6-foot-7 and just 18

Brughmans was born on 27 June 2008 in Antwerp, making him just 18 years old at the time of signing. He stands an imposing 2.00 meters tall, roughly 6 feet 7 inches, which gives him coverage of the goal that most shot-stoppers can only dream about.

The young keeper wears the No. 28 shirt at Genk as a nod to Thibaut Courtois, Belgium’s current goalkeeping standard-bearer.

He joined Genk’s academy back in 2022 after leaving PSV Eindhoven, and his rise through the ranks has been swift. He made his Jong Genk debut in 2025 and has already started first-team matches, keeping clean sheets in the process. On the international stage, he’s captained Belgium’s U17 side at both the European Championship and the World Cup, and has represented his country at every youth level from U15 through U19.

Genk extended Brughmans’ contract until 2030 just this past July, a move that strengthened their negotiating position considerably when Liverpool came calling.

Why Liverpool moved now

Alisson Becker is entering the final year of his contract. Brughmans isn’t being brought in to replace Alisson immediately — the loan back to Genk makes that clear enough — but the deal does position Liverpool with a long-term successor.

There’s also an interesting wrinkle involving Giorgi Mamardashvili, Liverpool’s current backup goalkeeper. Reports of interest from Nottingham Forest could accelerate Brughmans’ arrival at Anfield. If Mamardashvili departs, Liverpool might recall Brughmans from his loan earlier than planned.

Liverpool’s Global Talent department identified Brughmans as a high-potential prospect, and the club moved to lock him down before the transfer deadline. His medical was completed on or around 31 August 2026, just ahead of the window closing.

The economics of betting on teenagers

The deal is valued at approximately £30 million, roughly €35 million — approximately €33 million fixed plus €2 million in add-ons — for a teenager with limited senior experience. The six-year contract length gives both the player and the club time to see the investment through.

For Genk, the deal represents a significant return on a player who came through their academy system in just a few years. The club gets to keep Brughmans for one more season while banking a fee that validates their development model. KRC Genk has a storied reputation for developing talented goalkeepers, having previously produced Thibaut Courtois.