Ireland star Gavin Bazunu is set to sign for Belgian side Standard Liege on loan until the end of the season. It will be a straight loan move for Bazunu with no option to buy.
Dan McDonnell of The Irish Independent is reporting that Bazunu is currently on his way to Belgium to complete his medical before the 11pm deadline tonight. The former Shamrock Rovers keeper recently returned from injury after rupturing his Achilles tendon last April and has been featuring for Southampton's under-21s to build up his fitness.
Achilles tendon injuries are famously difficult injuries to come back from, especially for goalkeepers however his return for Southampton U21's against Chelsea has garnered traction online for a miraculous saves.
🇮🇪🧤 Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu (22) recently suffered an achilles tendon rupture and was out for 250+ days...
He's slowly building his fitness back and made these 2 top saves for Southampton's youth team! 👏 pic.twitter.com/IP8k1lypWw
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) January 31, 2025
Bazunu had not been registered in the Saints Premier League squad despite travelling to their away game against Ipswich Town at the weekend. Southampton spent £25 million on Aaron Ramsdale in the summer which has left Bazunu in the position of searching for regular first team football. It is expected that if Southampton get relegated this season Ramsdale will move on which will leave the Irishman as the number one in the Championship next season.
It has been reported that Bazunu had interest from Ajax and Udinese ahead of the deadline but Liege who sit seventh in the Belgian Pro League are looked at as the best option.
Irishman Fergal Harkin is said to have played a key role in convincing Bazunu to head to Belgium. Harkin was the head of the loan departments at Manchester City whilst Gavin was there and had built a good relationship with each other.
Bazunu will join Irelands Womens stars Amber Barrett and Claire O’Riordan at the Belgian club. A fantastic opportunity now awaits the Dublin native to gain regular first-team minutes and strengthen his case to reclaim Ireland's number one spot before heading back to St. Mary's in the summer.
2024 was a rough year for Gavin Bazunu but with as much talent as he has, it should only be a matter of time before we see Bazunu back in the Ireland squad and battling Caoimhín Kelleher for the number 1 shirt.
