Bart Verbruggen has cemented his place at Brighton & Hove Albion this season, a year after arriving at The Amex from Anderlecht.
Roberto De Zerbi had rotated between the 22-year-old and Jason Steele last season. His successor, Fabian Hürzeler, has relied upon Verbruggen this season.
The Netherlands international has kept three clean sheets and conceded 14 goals from 10 games for Brighton this season.
The goalkeeper is currently preparing for the UEFA Nations League tie against Hungary on Saturday. Ahead of this tie, De Telegraaf spoke to former Hungary international Gábor Babos.
Verbruggen spent four years between 2014 and 2019 at NAC Breda’s academy. During his time at the Dutch club, Babos was his goalkeeping coach, and the pair have maintained close ties since then.
“I have now lived in the Netherlands for as long as I have lived in Hungary and I have a very good relationship with Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. I wish the Netherlands just as much as Hungary. May the best win,” he said.
The Dutchman’s deal at the Premier League side lasts until 2028. Babos has expressed his delighted with the player’s progress at Brighton and has backed the stopper to take the big step in his future.
“I had the opportunity to work with Bart for five years in the youth team of NAC Breda. It doesn’t surprise me at all what Bart is showing now, because even at that age he was already a great talent,” Babos explained.
“Now contact is mainly limited to texting and calling, because he obviously has a very busy schedule. He’s doing great at Brighton, and I expect it will not stop there when you see that big clubs are already regularly linked with him.”
Verbruggen has been the first-choice goalkeeper for the Netherlands since October 2023.
“I also think that Bart will be the Dutch goalkeeper for a long period of time. He has a fantastic future ahead of him. Bart is an all-round goalkeeper who has mastered all facets of goalkeeping,” he added.
