“Everything was settled at 11.45pm” – Player details rushed Brighton exit, had to head ‘straight’ to new club

Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen has revealed it go to the point he simply had to leave the club to get the gametime he wanted.

The Dutch goalkeeper joined Brighton in a £4.5m deal from Ajax in July 2021 but has only made one appearance for the first team so far, instead spending most of his time with the Under 23s.

That’s something he was seemingly unhappy with and so, like many young players, sought a temporary move away in search of regular playing time.

He got that in the January transfer window, heading to Belgium with KV Oostende on loan until the end of the season.

The move was one finalised at the last minute of the winter window, with Brighton confirming late on deadline day that the youngster had temporarily left the club.

Scherpen has now detailed how it came about, revealing the mad rush involved, including having to head ‘straight’ to his new club, and why he sought out a deal.

“We came to a point at Brighton that we wondered: are we going to continue like this?” he told RTV Drenthe.

“Am I just going to continue to develop, train and play some matches in the under 23s every now and then, or am I going to choose a club where I could play regularly? And now here we are.

“We filled up the car, brought the dogs, brought girlfriend and everything was settled at 11.45pm.

“I want to stay in the picture. That is a nice stage to show myself. Also, to the Netherlands, where they may have forgotten me sometimes.

“And also towards the European Championship next summer. It is also important for myself to know that I still belong to the top of the Netherlands at that age.”