Kjell Scherpen arrived at Brighton & Hove Albion from Ajax in 2021 and made his debut for the English club in January 2022. Later that month, the Seagulls sent him on loan to KV Oostende, before sanctioning another loan move to Vitesse last summer.
The goalkeeper has been a regular for the Eredivisie side this season, keeping five clean sheets and conceding 29 goals in 22 games.
Vitesse don’t have an option to make his stay permanent and he will have to return to The Amex after his loan deal. The 23-year-old is realistic to know he won’t be playing for Brighton next season.
Speaking to ESPN’s podcast, Fresia & Milan Parkeren de Bus, relayed Voetbal Zone, the Dutchman has revealed his willingness to play in the Championship next season.
“The Championship seems very nice to me. Now I see [Millwall’s] Zian Flemming, for example, too. That’s great how it works,” he said.
“Every stadium is packed and has a great atmosphere. I think you play 46 games a season. That would be a nice step for my continuity in England.
“Also, how we lived there and how it was for a few days last week. That just feels really good. And yet different from the Netherlands. We’re very much in the right place there. So, I hope I can play a year in the Championship and then look up.”
Scherpen hasn’t specified the Championship club he would like to represent next season.
His deal at Brighton expires in 2024. Roberto De Zerbi’s side have to make a decision on the goalkeeper in the summer, whether to cash in from his sale or extend his deal [and then send him out on loan again] so that they won’t lose him for free a year later.
Meanwhile, the stopper has weekly contact with the Premier League side, who are closely following his development at Vitesse.
