Ipswich close to €15m deal for Dutch keeper Scherpen

Ipswich Town are reported to be on the brink of completing the transfer of 26‑year‑old Dutch goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen from Union Sint‑Giillis for a fee reported at around fifteen million euros. The proximity of the agreement was confirmed by Het Belang van Limburg, which added that both clubs are steering toward a deal.

The Tractor Boys opened their pursuit last weekend, aiming to secure a first‑choice keeper for their Premier League promotion push. Scherpen is earmarked as the number one at Portman Road, complementing the recent arrival of Kayne van Oevelen, also signed to bolster the squad for the future.

Scherpen’s absence from Union’s training match against Lille on Saturday added fuel to the transfer speculation, as he was listed in the waiting room while negotiations continued.

During the previous season with Union Sint‑Giillis, the goalkeeper featured in forty‑three league games, keeping twenty‑one clean sheets while conceding thirty‑eight goals.

Union initially paid roughly two million euros to bring Scherpen to the Belgian club. The asking price of about fifteen million euros reflects the club’s need to allocate a significant percentage of any future resale to Brighton & Hove Albion.

With both sides edging closer to an agreement, Scherpen is set to become Ipswich’s primary goalkeeper, while Union stands to realise a substantial profit on their original investment.