Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens has been named Premier League signing of the season by The Athletic, with the publication highlighting the roles of director of football Jason Wilcox and director of recruitment Christopher Vivell in securing his transfer. The 23-year-old Belgium international joined United from Royal Antwerp in the summer of 2025 for a fee of €21 million, plus €4 million in add-ons, totaling £21.6 million.
Initially arriving as an understated acquisition, Lammens has become a key figure for manager Michael Carrick, establishing himself as the first-choice goalkeeper. His performances have earned him widespread recognition, following a similar accolade from The Daily Mail journalist Nathan Salt earlier in the season. The Athletic described Lammens as the ‘Premier League Signing of the Season’ in their 2025/26 awards.
The Athletic’s report details the internal discussions that led to Lammens’ signing, revealing that while former manager Ruben Amorim favoured Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, chief goalkeeping scout Tony Coton advocated strongly for the Belgian shot-stopper. Coton, a former goalkeeper for both Manchester United and Manchester City, had extensively scouted Lammens during his time with Antwerp and urged Wilcox to pursue the transfer.
Wilcox and Vivell subsequently backed Coton’s assessment, authorizing the deal for Lammens. The report quotes The Athletic stating, ‘Coton…had watched Lammens several times…and pressed director of football Jason Wilcox to make the move. Backed by director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, United took the plunge.’
Lammens’ emergence as a top Premier League goalkeeper represents a significant success for United’s recruitment strategy, and further validates the judgment of Wilcox, Vivell, and Coton. The signing underscores the importance of scouting and identifying undervalued talent, and provides a strong foundation for the team’s defensive stability going forward.
