Who is Senne Lammens? Manchester United Agree €21m Deal for Royal Antwerp Goalkeeper

Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens in a move that could reshape their goalkeeper department.

The 23-year-old Belgian is set to join for €21million (£18.2m) plus add-ons, with a five-year contract already agreed.

The signing comes after a turbulent start to the season, with Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir both under scrutiny following high-profile errors.

Now, United hope that Lammens can provide competition — and perhaps a long-term solution between the posts.

Who is Senne Lammens?

Born in Belgium, Lammens rose through the academy at Club Brugge, where he was regarded as one of the most talented goalkeepers of his generation.

However, he was blocked from first-team football by former Liverpool man Simon Mignolet. In search of opportunities, Lammens joined Royal Antwerp in July 2023.

Initially signed as backup, he quickly established himself as first-choice goalkeeper, making 44 appearances last season and helping Antwerp qualify for the UEFA Conference League.

His performances also earned him call-ups to the Belgian national squad, though he is yet to make his senior debut.

The deal will make Lammens Royal Antwerp’s record sale, surpassing Arthur Vermeeren’s January 2024 move to Atletico Madrid.

His market value has soared in recent months, jumping from €1.5m to €9m, but United have been forced to pay more than double that figure to secure his services.

Why Manchester United Want Senne Lammens

United had not originally planned to bring in another goalkeeper this summer, but the decision was revisited following errors from Onana and Bayindir in recent weeks.

With pressure mounting on new boss Ruben Amorim, United acted quickly to secure Lammens before Monday’s 7pm deadline.

Sources in Belgium suggest United have been scouting him since last September, and their long-standing interest has now materialised into a deal.

Belgian football expert Bart Tamsyn believes Lammens could one day succeed Thibaut Courtois as the nation’s No 1. He describes Lammens as a calm, composed presence with outstanding shot-stopping ability.

Indeed, no goalkeeper made more saves in the Jupiler Pro League last season.

Lammens is also strong with the ball at his feet, comfortable passing with both left and right foot, which makes him well-suited to modern football.

However, he is not without flaws. His distribution can lack accuracy and his inexperience sometimes leads to costly errors — traits that will need improvement in the Premier League spotlight.