Rotation rotation rotation: Club Brugge clarify plans for former Sunderland and Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet | OneFootball

Prior to the start of the 2025/2026 Belgian Pro League season, there was speculation as to how Nicky Hayen would manage the goalkeeping situation at Club Brugge. Simon Mignolet has been Mr reliable since joining the side from Liverpool in 2019. However, at the age of 37, Mignolet is approaching the end of his career, not that he is showing it. At the weekend, the veteran was in fantastic form to earn the side three points against Genk. Yet, with crucial Champions League qualifiers coming up, Club Brugge have decided to rotate their goalkeepers in August.

As reported by HLN, Mignolet will be given the chance to focus purely on the qualifiers against RB Salzburg. During that time, 27-year-old Nordin Jackers will take the league games. Jackers has stepped in when Mignolet has been injured over the past two seasons and has shown more than capable of being Club Brugge’s number one goalkeeper. Clearly, Club Brugge want to keep Jackers happy and ready with some form of football. The former Waasland-Beveren and OH Leuven goalkeeper is approaching his prime and needs game time. He can ill afford to sit on the bench all season and watch Mignolet. Yet, at the same time, Mignolet is still performing at such a high level there is little reason for Hayen to make a permanent switch.

Now that the situation is clear for August, speculation around the goalkeeping situation can settle down somewhat. However, once the qualifiers are over, the speculation will likely rear its head once again. Hayen has a delicate balancing act to carry out, as he has two excellent goalkeepers who the Club Brugge will want to keep happy throughout the season.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson