Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen is set to have a huge challenge on Wednesday, when the Netherlands face England in the Euros.
The 21-year-old was a starter in all of his national team’s games in the tournament so far, and his abilities are now getting some recognition from his home country’s media.
Outlet NOS today shares a story about Verbruggen and they managed to speak to Jack Stern, who’s his coach at Brighton.
“We didn’t want to put him in the spotlight too much right away. Before he came to us, he only played twenty games in Belgium, at Anderlecht. The step to the Premier League is a big one, so we wanted to introduce him slowly. Although he was frustrated that he wasn’t allowed to play everything, he also understood the choice and dealt with it well.
“Bart is a very complete goalkeeper. He is a good line keeper and he is also above average in the air. But we must not forget that he is 21. There will be times when he makes the wrong decision, for example he could have made a different choice with that goal. But it is not a big mistake either.
“He also thinks about his process to the top. We are both convinced that he can become one of the best goalkeepers in the world one day. But how we get there, that is an important process and he understands that now, at a young age.”
Verbruggen played for NAC Breda’s academy, and left the Netherlands in 2020, when RSC Andelecht signed him.
It was at the Belgian side that he managed to draw Brighton’s attention, with the Seagulls spending €20m to get him in the summer of 2023.
In his first season in England, he made 27 appearances, with 33 goals conceded and seven clean sheets, with Roberto De Zerbi also using Jason Steele many times.
Verbruggen’s Euros campaign now should hype him up and probably keep him as Brighton’s number one for next season, and it shall be no surprise if some other clubs start showing interest in him as well.
