Dutch goalkeeper joins premier league in 10 million euro deal

In a landmark transfer deal, Dutch goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen is set to join Ipswich Town in England’s Premier League for a guaranteed fee of at least €10 million. The announcement comes after the 26-year-old completed an outstanding season with Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium, where he secured both the Croky Cup and the Golden Glove award for most clean sheets.

Sources close to the negotiations confirm that Scherpen’s move has been finalized ahead of Ipswich’s upcoming campaign. The club, newly promoted to the top flight, will pay a base transfer fee of €10 million to Union Saint-Gilloise, with potential additional bonuses that could push the total deal value to €13 million. The young goalkeeper must still undergo a medical examination before officially signing a four-year contract.

Scherpen’s journey to the Premier League has been anything but straightforward. Drafted by Brighton & Hove Albion in 2021 for €5 million from Ajax, he saw limited first-team opportunities and was loaned out to KV Oostende, Vitesse Arnhem, and Sturm Graz before making a permanent switch to Union Saint-Gilloise in the summer of 2025 for around €2 million. His performances there have now paved the way for a return to English football.

Ipswich Town has also reinforced its squad with the addition of Kayne van Oevelen, who joins from FC Volendam. Van Oevelen and Scherpen will compete for the starting goalkeeper position alongside established first-choice Christian Walton, who featured prominently for Ipswich last season.

With just days before the new Premier League season kicks off, Scherpen’s transfer marks a significant moment for both the player and the club. His arrival signals Ipswich’s ambition to establish themselves in England’s top tier while Scherpen seeks to revive his career on a bigger stage.