Ipswich strengthen goalkeeping group with Van Oevelen move

Ipswich Town have completed a €4m (£3.4m) deal to sign 22-year-old goalkeeper Kayne van Oevelen from Volendam.

Van Oevelen helped Volendam win promotion to the Eredivisie in 2024-25, but their stay in the Dutch top flight was a short one after losing to Willem II in the promotion-relegation play-offs last term.

He made 32 appearances in the Eredivisie last season, conceding 51 goals. He did face the second-most shots of any goalkeeper in the competition (589), though, as well as the third-most shots on target (195).

Among all goalkeepers to make at least 15 Eredivisie appearances in 2025-26, only Vasilios Barkas (73.91% for Utrecht) had a better save percentage than Van Oevelen's 73.85%.

Van Oevelen is the fourth signing Ipswich have made as they prepare to return to the Premier League under new boss Gary O'Neil, following deals for Emersonn, Chuba Akpom and Cedric Kipre. They are reportedly also in talks to sign winger Abdul Fatawu from Leicester City.

Last season in the Championship, Christian Walton started 36 games in the Ipswich goal, with Alex Palmer playing the other 10.

The Tractor Boys' first game of the season sees them take on Sunderland on August 22, with Manchester United and Liverpool to come in their following two fixtures.