Liverpool have announced the signing of 18-year-old goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans from KRC Genk, with the deal reported to be worth up to £30m including add-ons.
The agreement was confirmed on Tuesday, only hours before the summer transfer window closed. Brughmans has signed a long-term contract with Liverpool at the club’s AXA Training Centre but will remain with KRC Genk on loan for the entire 2026-27 season.
He is expected to move to Anfield before the start of the 2027-28 campaign.
Liverpool published the following announcement:
“We have agreed a deal to sign goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans from KRC Genk 🔴The 18-year-old has put pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Reds and will now return to Genk for the duration of the 2026-27 season 🧤pic.twitter.com/9p5z60gE6w”
According to the BBC, the total value of the transfer could reach £30m once additional clauses are included. The structure of the agreement means Brughmans will continue his development in Belgian football before joining Liverpool permanently.
Brughmans made his breakthrough at Genk after playing 32 matches for the club’s second team. He was promoted to the senior side and made his first-team debut in April 2026.
The goalkeeper retained his place for the remainder of that season, making a further 10 appearances in the Belgian league. He has also started the new campaign as Genk’s first-choice goalkeeper, featuring in all four of the club’s matches so far.
His progress has also been reflected at international level. Brughmans captained Belgium at both the European Under-17 Championship and the Under-17 World Cup in 2025. He is now captain of Belgium’s Under-19 side.
The move represents a significant investment by Liverpool in a young goalkeeper who has already established himself in senior football. Rather than moving immediately to England, Brughmans will spend the coming season with Genk before beginning the next stage of his career at Liverpool.
The transfer was completed as Liverpool made a late addition before the closure of the summer market, while the loan arrangement allows Brughmans to continue receiving regular first-team football in Belgium.
