Senne Lammens rejected Premier League club for 'dream' Manchester United transfer

Senne Lammens with Manchester United chief Jason Wilcox (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United deadline-day signing Senne Lammens rejected a Premier League club before sealing his ‘dream’ move to Old Trafford.

The Belgian goalkeeper put pen to paper on a five-year contract at the Theatre of Dreams after United agreed a £18m deal with Royal Antwerp .

Lammens made 64 appearances for Antwerp, helping them win the Belgian Super Cup in 2023 and making more saves than any other goalkeeper in Europe last season.

The 23-year-old is yet to earn his first cap for Belgium but was named in the squad for the first time back in March.

Manchester United decided to sign a new goalkeeper at the end of the summer transfer window following Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana’s difficult starts to the season .

In Lammens, they signed one of the most promising shot-stoppers in Europe who attracted interest from a number of other clubs.

According to the Daily Mail , United’s Premier League rivals Aston Villa were also keen to sign Lammens and even agreed a deal with Royal Antwerp.

Emiliano Martinez was linked with a move away from Aston Villa (Picture: Getty)

Antwerp were hoping to shake hands with Villa as the fee was higher than United’s offer but Lammens made it clear he wanted to complete a ‘dream move’ to Old Trafford.

Aston Villa viewed Lammens as an ideal replacement for Emiliano Martinez, who was expected to leave the club before the transfer deadline .

But despite interest from several clubs, including Manchester United, Martinez ended up staying at Villa Park.

Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool and England defender, was among those to question why United did not sign Martinez , a proven Premier League goalkeeper and a World Cup winner with Argentina.

Senne knows ✨ pic.twitter.com/gos7N9LUlh — Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 2, 2025

‘I was expecting Emi Martinez to come in yesterday for Manchester United, just on the back of Unai Emery’s interview before the game against Crystal Palace on Sunday night,’ Carragher told Sky Sports News.

‘So I am surprised that hasn’t happened.

‘The Belgian lad [Lammens] is obviously a young goalkeeper with great potential and it just remains to be seen how long it will be before he goes into the team.

‘I would imagine that would be pretty quickly given the form of the other two goalkeepers at Manchester United.

‘But he’s a young goalkeeper and, like we said when Manchester United brought in a young striker in Benjamin Sesko at the other end of the pitch, they will need time, that’s just the nature of the beast, certainly as a goalkeeper as well.

‘I think the thing with the manager now is how quickly he puts this young lad in and I would imagine it would be pretty quickly.’

After completing a move to Old Trafford, Lammens said: ‘I am extremely proud to be joining Manchester United. It is a real dream come true.

‘The past few years have been an amazing journey, it’s now ended in an incredible destination and hopefully the beginning of something special.’

United’s director of football Jason Wilcox added: ‘Senne is an excellent young goalkeeper with great potential.

‘We are delighted that he has chosen to join Manchester United after significant interest from a number of clubs.’

Ruben Amorim could opt to bring Lammens straight into the team after the international break but Gary Neville believes he will start his United career as a back-up goalkeeper .

Manchester United resume their Premier League campaign against local rivals Manchester City after the international break.