Brighton & Hove Albion have signed Anderlecht goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who Manchester United had been monitoring as a potential transfer option.
The Manchester Evening News reported in May that the Reds had been interested in signing the Netherlands Under-21 international amid uncertainty around David de Gea's future at the club. The Spaniard is now out of contract at United, although the club will continue negotiations in the coming weeks to keep him at Old Trafford.
Verbruggen had been identified as a potential addition to Erik ten Hag's squad this summer after United hired a goalkeeper recruitment analyst earlier this season. But that ship has now sailed with Brighton confirming his arrival at the AMEX Stadium on a five-year contract until June 2028.
The 20-year-old was handed his Anderlecht debut by former Man City defender Vincent Kompany when he was just 18 and has been called up to the Netherlands' senior international squad already. Announcing the signing, Brighton first-team head coach Roberto De Zerbi said: "I am very pleased to have signed Bart.
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"He is used to playing a type of football similar to ours and he will have no problem fitting into our group. He has the potential to become a very important player for the club in the coming years."
De Gea got married to his partner, Edurne Garcia, on Saturday - a day after his United contract expired. United sources have told the Manchester Evening News they do not want to interrupt De Gea's private time with his family and will reopen dialogue face-to-face in the coming weeks.
The Spaniard won the Premier League's Golden Glove this season but made a series of high-profile errors against the likes of Sevilla, West Ham and Man City in the FA Cup final. United have since been linked with bringing in a new No.1 during the summer transfer window, with Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana and Feyenoord shot-stopper Justin Bijlow among the names linked with a move to Old Trafford.
The Reds still have senior goalkeepers Dean Henderson, Tom Heaton and Nathon Bishop on their books, although while the former has now returned for pre-season he is expected to be moved on before the transfer window ends.
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