Why Bart Verbruggen could be Brighton’s next big sale | OneFootball

Brighton have long developed talents then sold smartly, and Bart Verbruggen could be the club’s next major departure.

According to WeAreBrighton.com, the Dutchman, born on August 18, 2002, left for Anderlecht in 2020, won their 2022-23 Player of the Season, then joined Brighton for £16.3 million on a five-year deal.

He made 27 appearances while rotating with Jason Steele, then, within 15 months of his first Oranje call-up and eight months of debuting, started all six Euro 2024 matches as England halted the Netherlands in the semi-finals. After a brief injury lay-off, Fabian Hurzeler made him number one.

This season he has tightened up, cutting goals conceded per game from 1.6 to 1.3 and lifting his save rate from 61.1% to 69.1%. His Goals Prevented has swung from -6.27 to 1.64, eighth in the league, and his passing has risen from 24.8 at 75.1% to 31.1 at 77.6%.

After sitting out the FA Cup defeat at Liverpool, he steadied himself at Brentford and finished as the game’s highest-rated player, making four saves and two high claims, plus 28 of 44 passes and 7 of 23 long balls.

At 23, he starts for club and country, and a strong World Cup could spark movement. Bayern Munich have been linked as they plan beyond Manuel Neuer, PSG may enter again, Chelsea could reignite interest and Real Madrid have reportedly weighed him alongside Gregor Kobel. Brighton, chasing daylight from the drop zone, have him under contract until 2028.

Source: WeAreBrighton.com