Bart Verbruggen was born in 2002 in the city of Zwolle. Currently he is the first goalkeeper of the Dutch National team (as of Euro2024) and plays for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League..
His talent and quick reflexes put him in the spotlight at a young age, which is why he is now considered one of the most promising goalkeepers in Dutch football.
Verbruggen will go down in history as the youngest Oranje goalkeeper ever in a final round. And that with a big difference. The record was in the name of Jasper Cillessen during the 2014 World Cup.
Early years of Bart Verbruggen
In 2014, he was picked up by NAC Breda at WDS ’19 and joined the club’s youth academy. He never made his debut in the first team.
Anderlecht approached the Breda club in the summer of 2020 to bring Verbruggen to Brussels. Once there, he was reunited with Jelle ten Rouwelaar, who had been active at NAC for many years and worked as a goalkeeper coach at Anderlecht.
The Belgian powerhouse transferred 300 thousand euros for the then only eighteen-year-old goalkeeper. Verbruggen joined Anderlecht as third goalkeeper.
Verbruggen has been the club’s first goalkeeper since 2022 at age 20. Verbruggen managed to keep a clean sheet three times in a row in the Belgian competition.
Bart VerBruggen penalty killer!
When he didn’t let a single ball through in the penalty shootout against Ludogorets in the battle for the next round of the Conference League, the young goalkeeper claimed a hero’s role.
It was the first time since 1987 that a goalkeeper had managed to do this in a European match.
Anderlecht advanced to the round of 16 of the European tournament, partly thanks to Verbruggen. The goalkeeper took up a total of 24 positions in the 2022/23 season. He kept a clean sheet 10 times and conceded 28 goals.
Transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion
After receiving interest from top European players, Verbruggen ultimately opted for a transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion. The Premier League club paid more than 20 million euros for Verbruggen in the summer of 2023.
In his debut season, Verbruggen then played 27 matches and kept a clean sheet seven times.
When did Bart Verbruggen make his debut for the Dutch national team?
In 2023, Verbruggen is allowed to report to the Dutch national team for the first time. He and other internationals have to leave the training camp for a few days due to a virus infection. His debut in the Dutch national team is therefore postponed until October 13 of that year.
During the European Championship qualifying match against France (1-2), Verbruggen is in goal for the first time.
How does Bart Verbruggen perform in the Dutch national team?
At the beginning of June 2024, Koeman appoints the goalkeeper as first choice in goal for the Dutch national team at the European Championship. It is Verbruggen’s first final tournament. In Germany, he concedes 7 goals in 6 international matches and keeps ‘the clean sheet’ twice.
So far he played 18 games for the Dutch National Team/ Oranje. (February 2025).
Two articles in a row! Wow, you are on fire.
Verbruggen is very promising young keeper, top reflexes but still very inconsistent. Earlier in the season, it looks like he up his game a level but now he made a string of mistakes. Still a long way to become top keeper.
Gakpo: definitely the best forward we have in the last 10 years. Out of all the forwards we have in the last 10 years, only him survive the pressure of top league and earn a starting role for a top club now. He is also the forward who regularly show up in important WC or Euro matches. Good shooting, good cross and top fit.
Gakpo has had a strong year for Liverpool, and has pushed himself into the starting lineup. One nice development that he’s been using his left foot more and more when defenders anticipate that he will cut in on his right and overplay him.