Royal Antwerp’s director of football, Marc Overmars, has confirmed that Manchester United’s choices ended up blocking Senne Lammens’ move to a Premier League rival.
Manchester United wrapped up their 2025 summer business with the £18 million capture of Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens, tipped as one of Europe’s most promising young goalkeepers.
The club’s transfer spending totals around £215 million, a figure that could rise above £240 million if all bonus clauses are met.
Lammens joins fellow new arrivals Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Šeško in attack, while 18-year-old left-back Diego Leon was added earlier in July.
On the outgoing side, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Antony all departed, with Alejandro Garnacho’s £40 million move to Chelsea standing out as the biggest deal.
United blocked Lammens’ Villa transfer
Lammens was a highly sought-after player across Europe following his fantastic season in Belgium, with United competing with the likes of Galatasaray, Manchester City, and Aston Villa all linked throughout the summer.
According to Royal Antwerp’s director of football, Marc Overmars, Villa’s interest in the 23-year-old reached an agreement between the two clubs.
However, the transfer was contingent on Emilliano Martínez leaving Birmingham. The veteran shot-stopper was aiming to move to United, but the Old Trafford club preferred Lammens. This, combined with the player indicating he’d rather move to Amorim’s side, blocked his move to Villa.
“With Manchester United, we started as losers on deadline day,” Overmars told Gazet van Antwerpen, via Voetbal Primeur.
“We had a deal with Aston Villa, but Martínez still had to leave, and Senne didn’t want to go there. Only then did Man United make their first offer. Lower than Aston Villa. Four hours later, we finally reached an agreement.”
Only time will tell if the right choice was made
At the start of the 2025 summer transfer window, United were not initially looking to sign a new goalkeeper. However, after André Onana was quickly injured and asked for a new contract despite his poor campaign last season, Amorim was left unimpressed, and alternative plans were made.
When assessing their options, United were offered the chance to sign new Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, but turned the transfer down due to the finances involved. At the same time, United were aware of Martínez’s desire to switch to Old Trafford from Villa Park.
United asked Villa if they could sign Martínez on loan, but this was rejected, and the club ultimately chose to instead move for Senne Lammens.
The Belgian is the youngest and least experienced of the three, but was also the cheapest option and lowest risk signing that has the potential to reap high rewards for years to come.
Only time will tell if the right choice was made, but amid Altay Bayındır’s invigorating performances this season so far, there’s plenty of scope for Lammens to make an impression at Old Trafford.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.