Ever since David de Gea left Man United in the summer of 2023, the goalkeeping position has felt a little problematic at Old Trafford. His replacement Andre Onana turned out not to be the answer, and his understudy Altay Bayindir also failed to make a positive impact when given a chance to stake a claim for the No 1 shirt.
In late August, Ruben Amorim addressed the issue by signing little-known Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp, and the 23-year-old has instantly eased concerns over his lack of top-level experience with a series of assured performances. What Man United have found isn’t just a capable shot-stopper—they’ve discovered a goalkeeper who brings the calm authority that’s been missing since De Gea’s departure.
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The Belgian Who Radiates Composure
It always helps when your team is picking up points, 11 from a possible 15 to be precise, but United’s unbeaten run is not the sole reason their new goalkeeper is proving so popular with the fanbase.
Rather than admiring a string of jaw-dropping saves across his five appearances, it is actually the Belgian’s cool temperament which has impressed supporters the most. Exuding calmness under pressure, and willing to come off his line to claim dominant catches, there is an air of unflappability about Lammens.
He showed that on his Premier League debut when keeping a clean sheet against Sunderland at Old Trafford. Afterwards, he talked with pride about how it went.
“I did realise how important my debut would be. I had to make a good impression, and succeeded. Not that I made any spectacular saves, but I did radiate calm. I’m proud of that.”
That confidence has permeated through the side, with United’s back four certainly looking more controlled since Lammens took over the gloves.
Defensive Transformation: The Numbers Don’t Lie
There is clear evidence of a correlation between this new found calmness and improved defensive stability. Since Senne Lammens came into the starting XI, there have been fewer costly errors, and although more shots have been faced, the quality of those attempts have generally been low.
Man United Defence Before and Since Lammens
| Statistic | Before 4 October | Since 4 October |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 6 | 5 |
| Errors Leading to Shots (inc. goals) | 5 | 4 |
| Errors Leading to Goals | 3 | 0 |
| Shots Faced (inc. blocks) | 36 | 71 |
| Expected Goals Against (xGA) | 9.35 | 7.43 |
| xG Per Shot Faced | 0.17 | 0.10 |
| Big Chances Conceded | 17 | 12 |
As displayed here, the Expected Goals (xG) value of shots faced in the last five matches have dropped from an average of 0.17 to 0.10, with five fewer big chances conceded too.
The statistics reveal a striking pattern: while Man United have actually faced more shots with Lammens between the sticks (71 versus 36), the quality of those opportunities has diminished significantly. Most tellingly, the errors leading to goals—a chronic problem earlier in the season—have been completely eliminated since the Belgian’s arrival.
With Lammens and those around him feeling at ease, the form of key players like Matthijs de Ligt has improved, and United are far less likely to give up a stream of clear-cut opportunities. Opponents now have to work harder to force mistakes.
Lammens vs Bayindir: A Clear Upgrade
Senne Lammens’ performances have passed the eye test, but does the data back up the assessment he is an upgrade on Bayindir? The answer is yes.
In overall terms, Lammens’ 66.7 per cent save ratio is not among the very best in the division, but the Belgian’s success rate is by some distance better than the man he replaced, who stopped just 52.2 per cent of shots on target he faced.
How Lammens and Bayindir Compare in 2025-26
| Statistic | Lammens | Bayindir |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 5 | 6 |
| Goals Conceded | 7 | 11 |
| Saves Made | 14 | 13 |
| Save Ratio | 66.70% | 54.20% |
| Goals Prevented | 1.51 | -0.84 |
Lammens has also prevented 1.51 extra goals being scored against United according to Opta. The rather error-prone Bayindir was in negative territory (-0.84) on the same metric.
When you study their save placement graphics, displaying goals conceded and saves made, you will notice that Lammens covers the corners in a superior way. He has kept out several attempts that were heading just inside the post; meanwhile Bayindir’s saves were all blocks from centrally located efforts. Anything aimed for the corner went past the Turk.
The goals prevented metric is particularly damning for Bayindir. While Man United’s new Belgian goalkeeper has actively prevented goals through quality saves, his predecessor was actually conceding more goals than expected—the exact opposite of what a top-level goalkeeper should provide.
Command of the Box: What United Have Been Missing
One criticism of Bayindir and his predecessor Onana was a reluctance to come off their line to claim catches on a regular basis. This encouraged teams to bombard United’s box.
On his debut, Lammens showed that he was more positive in his approach, taking a high claim from a hanging Noah Sadiki cross. It was a catch that drew loud cheers from the stands, and it is a policy he has continued to take.
Lammens has also made some smart saves, even if none have been astounding. A save with his legs from Alexander Isak was a big moment in their 2-1 win at Liverpool. As was a terrific flying save to deny Brighton & Hove Albion’s Ferdi Kadioglu a top-class strike from distance at Old Trafford.
In each appearance to date, Lammens has been called upon to make at least one excellent save, so his start to life at the Theatre of Dreams has been extremely positive.
This willingness to dominate his penalty area represents a fundamental shift in Man United’s defensive approach. Where previous goalkeepers hesitated, Lammens acts decisively—claiming crosses that would have previously created dangerous scrambles in the six-yard box.
Tactical Evolution: How Amorim Uses His New Goalkeeper
It seems Amorim has altered his outlook on playing out short from goal kicks, with Senne Lammens as his goalkeeper. Fascinatingly, he has not produced a single goal kick that has been less than 40 yards long during the past five matches.
Aiming consistently towards the left wing, there has been a predictable but consistent feel to this aspect of United’s approach. During the first six matches, Bayindir was far more varied in his choices, often playing a short pass from goal kicks, and in 2024-25 Onana also mixed up his distribution from restarts.
Since Amorim took over, we have often seen a centre-back drift into midfield to receive passes from goal kicks, but that tactic has been less prevalent of late. In open play, Lammens is more than happy to pass the ball over shorter distances when it is at his feet, but the new instructions on goal kicks are crystal clear.
This tactical adjustment suggests Amorim has identified a strength in Lammens’ distribution and adapted the team’s approach accordingly. Rather than forcing the Belgian into a possession-based style that may not suit him, the Portuguese manager has embraced a more direct restart strategy—one that consistently targets specific areas and allows Man United to establish territorial advantage quickly.
The Long-Term Solution Man United Have Been Seeking
Lammens has proved he has the mindset to handle the pressure of playing for such a big side, and his technical ability looks very sound indeed. The task in hand now is to rack up more clean sheets, and to be the difference maker in key moments.
Once shutouts and match-winning displays become the norm, those Man United supporters who like what they see will begin to view Lammens as somebody who can be their No 1 for the long term.
The 23-year-old’s impact extends beyond statistics and save percentages. What he’s brought to Old Trafford is something intangible but invaluable: certainty. After two seasons of goalkeeping uncertainty that saw high-profile signings fail to deliver, Man United finally have a goalkeeper who looks comfortable in the pressure cooker of Old Trafford.
At just 23, Lammens has time on his side to develop into a world-class goalkeeper. More importantly, he’s already demonstrating the psychological qualities—composure, command, confidence—that cannot be taught. These are the foundations upon which elite goalkeeping careers are built.
Ruben Amorim’s gamble on a relatively unknown Belgian goalkeeper from Royal Antwerp is paying dividends far beyond what anyone could have reasonably expected. While Man United’s goalkeeping situation looked problematic just months ago, it now appears they’ve stumbled upon a solution that could serve them for years to come.
The question is no longer whether Man United can solve their goalkeeper problem. With Senne Lammens between the posts, that problem appears to be solved.
Read More: One Year of Ruben Amorim at Man United: Progress Emerges But Questions Remain Unanswered
FAQs
Who is Senne Lammens and where did Man United sign him from?
Senne Lammens is a 23-year-old Belgian goalkeeper signed by Man United from Royal Antwerp in late August under manager Ruben Amorim. Despite being little-known before his arrival, he has impressed with assured performances across his first five appearances.
How has Senne Lammens improved Man United’s defense?
Since Lammens arrived, Man United have eliminated errors leading to goals (down from 3 to 0), reduced the xG per shot faced from 0.17 to 0.10, and conceded five fewer big chances. His calm presence has stabilized the entire defensive unit.
How does Lammens compare to Altay Bayindir statistically?
Lammens has a 66.7% save ratio compared to Bayindir’s 54.2%, and has prevented 1.51 goals according to Opta metrics while Bayindir was in negative territory at -0.84. Lammens also covers corners far more effectively than his predecessor.
What tactical changes has Ruben Amorim made with Lammens as goalkeeper?
Amorim has adopted a more direct approach from goal kicks with Lammens, who hasn’t produced a single goal kick shorter than 40 yards in five matches. All goal kicks consistently target the left wing, contrasting with the varied short-passing approach used previously.
Can Senne Lammens become Man United’s long-term number one goalkeeper?
At 23, Lammens has the age, temperament, and technical ability to be Man United’s long-term solution. He’s already demonstrated the composure needed at Old Trafford, and once clean sheets and match-winning performances become more consistent, he could establish himself as the club’s goalkeeper for years to come.
