Manchester United have officially secured Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp in an £18.2 million deal, marking their fifth major summer signing as the club intensifies its squad overhaul under director of football Jason Wilcox. The agreement, finalized hours before England’s transfer window closure, includes performance-based add-ons and positions the 23-year-old as a cornerstone for United’s revamped defensive strategy.
Lammens, who recorded 173 saves across all competitions last season—the highest among goalkeepers in Europe’s top eight leagues—distinguished himself with exceptional metrics, including preventing 0.5 goals per 90 minutes beyond expected averages. His ability to distribute the ball under pressure further impressed United scouts, with the keeper leading all European goalkeepers under 23 in progressive passes during the 2024/25 campaign. Despite earlier interest in Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, the club prioritized Lammens’ potential after extensive analysis of his rapid development trajectory.
United now field four senior goalkeepers, including André Onana, Altay Bayindir, and veteran Tom Heaton, though exits remain plausible before Turkey’s September 11 and Saudi Arabia’s September 10 deadlines. Sources confirm the club is open to offers for surplus keepers, particularly if bids meet valuation thresholds. Head coach Ruben Amorim, who previously tracked Lammens during his tenure at Sporting CP, faces an immediate challenge integrating the newcomer amid early-season inconsistencies from Onana and Bayindir.
In his first statement as a United player, Lammens declared: “This club’s ambition aligns perfectly with my goals. I’m ready to contribute immediately and grow alongside a team determined to reclaim its place at football’s summit.” Wilcox echoed the sentiment, emphasizing Lammens’ “elite reflexes and composure” while acknowledging fierce competition from European rivals for his signature.
The transfer delivers a near-100% profit for Royal Antwerp, who acquired Lammens from Club Brugge just two years ago. His arrival elevates United’s summer expenditure to £232 million, following the signings of Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Diego León. Belgian football analysts project Lammens as the natural successor to Thibaut Courtois for the national team, though adapting to Premier League demands remains his next critical hurdle.
Sky Sports analyst Danyal Khan noted: “United sought a keeper who balances current readiness with growth potential. Lammens’ penalty-saving prowess—four stops in Belgium last term—and statistically dominant profile made him the optimal choice over more experienced alternatives.” With Amorim’s three-year title-contention blueprint accelerating, all eyes now turn to how swiftly the Belgian can challenge for United’s No. 1 jersey.
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