Verbruggen has been star Brighton player at Euro 2024

What is it about Ollie Watkins and the Albion? The Aston Villa striker loves scoring against Brighton goalkeepers and seemingly that trait extends to international level as his 90th minute winner brilliantly struck beyond Bart Verbruggen earned England a spot in the Euro 2024 final at the expense of the Netherlands.

There was nothing Verbruggen could have done about it. Not that it stopped him being inconsolable at the full time whistle.

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk showed a touch of class by heading over to talk to Verbruggen before joining the England celebrations.

An example of real leadership from Dunk, thinking of his Albion teammates when the natural reaction should have been euphoria at being part of the first ever England squad to reach a final on foreign soil.

When the pain eventually subsides for Verbruggen, he can look back on his Euro 2024 performances with pride. He has been by far and away the best Brighton player at the tournament, strengthening his reputation as one of the most promising young goalkeepers in Europe.

Without Verbruggen, the Netherlands would not have made it to Dortmund. He made some key stops in their 2-1 opening group game win over Poland.

Next came an impressive clean sheet against France and their array of attacking talent. Yes, we are ignoring the fact the French were turgid throughout their time in Germany.

The round of 16 brought a meeting with a Romania side who had impressed in Group E through their commitment to all-out-attack. Verbruggen recorded another shutout as the Netherlands eased through 3-0.

It was in the closing stages of the quarter final against Turkey though when Verbruggen really came to the fore. Having trailed 2-1 entering the last 20 minutes, Stefan De Vrij headed a Dutch equaliser before Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo forced opposition defender Mert Muldur into turning home an own goal.

Turkey threw everything they had at ruining the Netherlands turnaround, leading Verbruggen to make an outstanding one-hand reaction save from Kerem Akturkoglu to book the Dutch their spot in the semi final.

To watch the maturity and composure with which Verbruggen played throughout Euro 2024, you would think he is a veteran with 100 international caps under his belt.

Not a 21-year-old installed as first choice by Ronald Koeman as recently as March, in the process becoming the youngest Netherlands number one since the 1960s.

It is also easy to forget Verbruggen did not get off to the best of starts to life at Brighton following his £17 million move from Anderlecht last summer.

He struggled with the amount of responsibility Roberto De Zerbi placed on his goalkeepers with the ball at their feet.

There were high-profile, goal-costing errors against Plucky Little Bournemouth, Liverpool and Crystal Palace. Other mistakes were bailed out by teammates or Verbruggen himself, making fine stops to redeem a loose pass.

The improvement Vebruggen showed through the second half of the season though was impressive. By the start of March, those jitters whenever he had the ball at his feet were long gone.

He even managed to convince De Zerbi to abandon his controversial goalkeeper rotation policy, other than when Jason Steele was somewhat harshly thrown in at the deep end to face Manchester City and Manchester United.

Verbruggen surely goes into the 2024-25 season under Fabian Hurzeler as Brighton number one. And if he continues to progress at his current rate, it could be his last campaign with the Albion before a big money move to one of the European Super League Elite Six.

It will come as a surprise to nobody to hear there are already tentative links with Chelsea. The Blues were actually said to be interested in Verbruggen last summer before he joined the Albion and pre-Todd Boehly, so maybe this is a rare example of them not just copying the Albion’s homework.

A more likely destination would be Liverpool. Alisson Becker is not getting any younger and attracting plenty of interest from the Saudi Sportswashing League.

With the Redmen now managed by a Dutchman in Arne Slot, you can put two and two together and make five by suggesting the Netherlands connection could lead Verbruggen to Anfield.

Brighton seem to have known all along that such is the talent of Verbruggen, he would only be passing through the Amex for a couple of years.

The club have stockpiled some of the best young English goalkeeping talent around, having a clear succession plan for when Verbruggen does leave.

Carl Rushworth is currently next in line having been the best goalkeeper in the Championship last season. Another loan either abroad or to a fellow Premier League club would complete his education, leaving Rushworth perfectly placed to take over as Brighton number one should Verbruggen go next summer.

And then there is James Beadle. An equally talented and slightly younger goalkeeper who has earned rave reviews storming through the divisions with Crewe Alexandra, Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday.

Albion fans should watch out with Beadle about as he could be the real deal. For now though, it is all about Verbruggen.

He did his country proud. He did Brighton proud. Now it is back to the Albion and continuing his journey to becoming one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.