Senne Lammens joined Manchester United on the summer transfer deadline day and has been exceptional since his debut against Sunderland.
Going back to just last season, Manchester United fans were worried any time the ball came close to their goalkeeper, Andre Onana. Confidence in the shotstopper was at an all-time low, and Altay Bayindir didn’t offer much more hope as the second-choice option.
Bayındır started the season as United’s first-choice goalkeeper until Saturday, 4 October 2025. In the final game before the first international break of the season, Senne Lammens started his first game as Manchester United’s goalkeeper.
After joining on deadline day, Lammens was named on the bench against Manchester City (3-0 loss), Chelsea (2-1 win), and Brentford (3-1 loss). Against Sunderland, Lammens helped United to their first clean sheet of the season with a brilliant performance.
Despite signing for United for just £18.1 million, not including potential add-ons, Lammens cemented himself as one of the most important players in the team under Rúben Amorim, Darren Fletcher and now, Michael Carrick.
The 23-year-old cost under 10% of United’s summer transfer business, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško totalling over £200 million.
“When you need us [goalkeepers], we are there for you,” said former United goalkeeper coach Eric Steele on Talk of the Devils.
While that was describing Edwin van der Sar helping Cristiano Ronaldo after a serious car crash, it is true in football matches, too. Every successful team has a goalkeeper who plays a crucial role in the dressing room, even if they are rarely needed on the pitch.
Lammens is exactly what United need
The goalkeeper position is one of the most difficult in world football, but Senne Lammens is currently excelling in it. Many can’t handle the pressure of the Old Trafford floodlights, the roar of the crowd, and the weight on their shoulders as an attacker looks to hit United back on the counterattack. But Lammens can.
“When I was growing up, it was 2008/2009, that was prime United as well, so it was van der Sar in goal then. I don’t really recall one particular save… I think I also can resonate with him more,” said Lammens to Premier League Productions.
“Our characters are maybe a bit more alike, and just every game he was solid, and he was there, and he was a rock behind the defence. That’s also when I always tell some teammates, because you’re at this big club and you have so many good teammates, you also sometimes have to give them the possibility to shine.”
Naming no names, some Manchester United goalkeepers haven’t understood the need not to have the spotlight on them – to be an understated character. But again, Lammens does. He knows his job is just to keep the ball out of the net, and nothing more.
He continued to say: “As a goalkeeper, sometimes you just don’t really have to make too many big saves, you just don’t want to give the game away, you always want to stay in the game.
“So then it’s players like Bruno Fernandes or other people, attackers can make the difference in the game, so that’s also something I’m trying to do, to keep my team in the game when it needs to be.”
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Lammens is more than a calm figure
Despite being known for his calm and composed nature, Lammens is more than just an easy-going goalkeeper. He understands what it means to win and how important that is at Manchester United.
“I think I would say it every week that it’s an important game,” Lammens said in the lead-up to United’s return against Everton on Monday evening. “But especially this one for me, because our home game against them was a really tough loss, playing against 10 men as well, so I think we also owe it to ourselves and to the fans to keep that in mind and to get a reaction.
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“I think the way we’re playing right now, of course with the last five games, which were good, you just want to keep that momentum going after a week without a game.”
Lammens embodies everything you need in a Manchester United goalkeeper. Concentration? Yes. Compsure? Check. A desire and hunger to win? In abundance. Confidence from the fans and the squad? Of course.
With Radek Vitek to return from his impressive loan at Bristol City in the summer and Elyh Harrison still highly regarded within the club, United are in a great place regarding their goalkeeper situation. An even more impressive feat, given that Onana is still contracted to the club and David de Gea only left three years ago.
United have already found their long-term De Gea replacement.
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