Liverpool seal two future-star deals in rapid succession as Iraola builds for the long term
Liverpool have agreed deals for two highly rated 18-year-olds in the space of roughly an hour, continuing their busy Deadline Day activity under Andoni Iraola with less than 36 hours left in the 2026/27 summer transfer window.
The club remain focused on immediate squad needs — the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee that could reach £123 million has already been completed — but they are also securing long-term options.
Lucca Brughmans: The towering goalkeeper
Fabrizio Romano first confirmed that Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement with Genk for 18-year-old goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans. The deal is valued at a €35 million package (around £30 million), with reports indicating a fixed fee of approximately €33 million plus €2 million in add-ons. Medical formalities are underway.
Brughmans, who stands an imposing 6ft 7in (2.00m), is expected to sign as a Liverpool player and then return to Genk on a season-long loan for 2026/27. That arrangement could change if current backup Giorgi Mamardashvili leaves before Tuesday’s deadline, with Nottingham Forest among the clubs linked. In that scenario, Brughmans could join the first-team squad immediately.
The Belgian youth international has made a limited number of senior appearances for Genk (around 12–15, depending on the source) and kept several clean sheets. He has captained Belgium’s under-age sides and comes from the same academy that produced Thibaut Courtois. Liverpool’s recruitment team are said to be convinced by his long-term potential as a future option behind Alisson.
Djylian N’Guessan: The versatile French forward
Shortly afterwards, Romano reported that Liverpool have also agreed terms for French forward Djylian N’Guessan from Saint-Étienne. The 18-year-old (who turned 18 on 30 August) will join in the summer of 2027 subject to a medical. The fee is reported in the region of €5 million (£4.25 million), though exact details have not been fully confirmed. He is currently valued around that level after previous interest from clubs including Chelsea.
N’Guessan is a versatile attacker capable of playing as a central striker or on either wing. A product of the Saint-Étienne academy, he has already made around 13 senior appearances and scored his first senior goal last November. He has strong youth international credentials with France, including impressive goal tallies at under-16 and under-17 level, and is a current under-20 international.
Like Brughmans, he is expected to spend the 2026/27 season gaining further experience at his current club (now in Ligue 2) before moving to Anfield. Upon arrival he is likely to start with the under-21s, with the possibility of early first-team training opportunities if his development continues.
Context under Iraola
These two agreements underline Liverpool’s dual approach this window: addressing first-team needs while investing in high-upside young talent identified by the club’s global recruitment network. Both players will remain at their current clubs for the coming season under the current plans, giving them regular senior minutes before they integrate into the Anfield setup.
With the window closing on Tuesday evening, further late activity remains possible, but the rapid confirmation of Brughmans and N’Guessan shows Liverpool are already looking well beyond the immediate campaign.
