Senne Lammens, the new Belgian goalkeeper Manchester United signed recently.
Who is Senne Lammens?
Signed on Deadline Day (1 September 2025) from Royal Antwerp. He joins United on a five-year contract, reportedly costing around €21 million (£18–18.2 million) plus add-ons.
Just 23 years old, he arrives as a promising talent and as competition for United’s current keepers.
Summary Table:
Name:Senne Lammens
Age 23
Position:Goalkeeper (Belgium)
Previous Club:Royal Antwerp
Appearances 64 (all competitions)
Transfer Fee ~€21 million (£18–18.2 million) + add-ons
Contract Length:5 years (until 2030)
Notable Stats:173 saves in 2024–25 (most in Europe’s top 10)
International:Belgium U21; first senior call-up March 2025
Shirt Number:31
Based on what we know about Senne Lammens, I’d say he looks like a very promising choice for Manchester United, though not without some risk.
✅ Why he could be a good signing
▪︎Elite shot-stopper → He made 173 saves last season, more than any keeper in Europe’s top 10 leagues. That suggests he has excellent reflexes and positioning.
▪︎Young with upside → At 23, he’s much younger than most elite goalkeepers, giving United a long runway to develop him into a world-class No. 1.
▪︎Belgian tradition → Belgium has produced top keepers (Courtois, Mignolet, Casteels), and Lammens is already being viewed as a possible successor to Courtois for the national team.
▪︎Mentality → Reports highlight his composure and leadership at Royal Antwerp, which are key traits for handling pressure at Old Trafford.
▪︎Cost-effective → Compared to options like Emiliano Martínez, he was significantly cheaper while offering higher long-term potential.
⚠️ Risks and uncertainties
▪︎Limited top-level experience → Just 64 senior appearances so far, mostly in Belgium. The jump to the Premier League is massive in terms of speed, intensity, and media scrutiny.
▪︎Distribution question marks → United want keepers comfortable with the ball at their feet. Lammens is competent, but not yet in the same league as André Onana in terms of passing range.
▪︎Pressure cooker → Old Trafford can make or break players. If he starts with mistakes, the media and fans will be quick to pounce.
🔑 Bottom line
He’s not a guaranteed “finished product” like Martínez would’ve been, but he represents a smart, long-term investment. If United give him time and the right coaching, he could become one of Europe’s best goalkeepers.
According Jordan Butler(BBC Sport journalist):
“He excelled in his first full top-flight season as Antwerp qualified for the Uefa Conference League and both his save percentage and passing accuracy were higher than that of Andre Onana in 2024-25.
His underlying numbers are even more impressive and suggest that the Belgian can make an instant impact at Old Trafford during this campaign.
His goals prevented total of 18.4 is outrageous.
Put simply, he’s a serious shot-stopper.
Here’s a fun and quite charming anecdote about Senne Lammens that reveals his unexpected prowess—well beyond shot-stopping…
When the Goalkeeper Scores
Back in his youth days with Club Brugge Under-19s, Senne Lammens famously headed home a last-minute equaliser in a UEFA Youth League match against Real Madrid. It was a moment that grabbed headlines worldwide:
“I didn’t know if you knew!… It was also kind of a dream come true, if you can help your team in these last minutes.”
— Lammens on that memorable goal
Think about it: most goalkeepers only see action in their own penalty area—but here he was, up in the box, grabbing a vital goal. It’s the kind of moment that fans love: unexpected, heroic, and a total goalkeeper fantasy made reality.
