Barcelona have included Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen in their long-term target list, according to a ‘confidential’ report from Tuesday’s edition of Sport.
The Netherlands international joined the Premier League club from Anderlecht in July 2023 and cemented his place at The Amex this season. He’s also the first-choice stopper for his country.
Verbruggen started in two UEFA Nations League matches against Spain but wasn’t able to prevent La Roja from progressing.
The report states Barcelona officials closely followed the 22-year-old live in action against Spain.
At the start of this season, the La Liga giants considered signing a new goalkeeper in the summer of 2025. Marc-André ter Stegen’s serious injury forced them to sign free agent Wojciech Szczęsny last October and he has impressed so far.
Sport claim Barcelona want to offer 34-year-old Pole a one-year extension so that he can compete with 32-year-old Ter Stegen next season. This will give them sufficient time to monitor several candidates for 2026.
Verbruggen is one of them and is ‘sure to be’ on the Catalan club’s target list for 2026. He’s one of the goalkeepers with ‘most potential’ and his displays for Brighton caught Barca’s attention.
The Seagulls player’s contract lasts until 2028, and Sport state he ‘won’t come cheap’.
