Real Madrid eye Verbruggen as Courtois' successor
The Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, 24, with a contract at Brighton until June 2028, appears on Real Madrid's Valdebebas list as a possible replacement for Thibaut Courtois. After featuring in August among the shortlist of Diogo Costa and Vandevoordt, his candidacy remains alive with the season underway.
Valdebebas List and Options
At 24 and with a contract at Brighton until June 2028, the Dutchman is again on the Valdebebas list after appearing in August in the shortlist of Diogo Costa and Vandevoordt.
At the end of August the Brighton goalkeeper was already on the list for the day after Courtois, and his candidacy remains alive with the season underway.
Real Madrid also continues to monitor Diogo Costa, Porto goalkeeper valued at €40 million, and trusts Javi Navarro, a 19‑year‑old academy graduate with a contract until 2030, although they prefer him to develop at Castilla before promoting him.
Timeline and Context of the Possible Transfer
Thibaut Courtois is under contract until 2027 and remains undisputed between the posts with José Mourinho.
The club is already working on his succession and, if Courtois ends his spell in 2027, Verbruggen would face that summer with only one year left on his Brighton contract.
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That twelve‑month gap between the two contracts places the deal in the medium term.
The summer of 2027 will be decisive, as Courtois will reach the end of his contract and Verbruggen will be in his final year at Brighton.
Born on 18 August 2002, Verbruggen joined Brighton in July 2023 from Anderlecht, which transferred him for around €20 million after naming him the best player of their 2022/23 season.
He signed for five seasons, until 2028, and earned a starting spot in the Premier League.
Roberto De Zerbi, then manager of the English club, justified his signing because of the fit in a side that builds play from the back.
He stands 1.94 metres tall and is a full international for the Netherlands.
With four Premier League seasons at 24, Verbruggen offers a more economical option than the €40 million price tag on Diogo Costa.