Exclusive: Championship Clubs Battle for Brighton Keeper Thomas McGill as Contract Winds Down

A number of Championship clubs are locked in a battle to try and sign highly-rated Brighton and Hove Albon shot-stopper Thomas McGill.

Canadian international keeper McGill has impressed on loan at League Two MK Dons this season.

The 24-year-old has played 25 games for the Dons and was recalled by the Seagulls last month as cover.

McGill originally signed for Dons on a season-long loan deal, but he returned to the Amex Stadium with interest growing in trying to secure his signature.

A product of the Brighton academy system, McGill, who hails from Ontario, is well-regarded by the Seagulls.

But with a number of more experienced keepers ahead of him in the first-team pecking order, SportsBoom understands McGill is hungry to play as much as football.

Netherlands international Bart Verbruggen is Brighton’s No.1 this season and has impressed with the flying high in the top half of the table under new boss Fabian Hurzeler.

FIRST TEAM BREAK

Experienced goalie Jason Steele (34) is also standing in the way of McGill breaking into the first-team squad.

Capped six times by England Under-17s, the ambitious keeper enjoyed his loan spell at Dons, with the club battling to avoid relegation providing a stern test in his first proper loan move away from the East Sussex seaside resort.

He had short loan spells at both Greenwich Borough and Basingstoke Town coming through the youth, as well as two far from productive spells at Crawley Town, where he played just one game.

But some impressive displays between the sticks has made a string of Championship clubs take note of his qualities, and with his deal up this summer time is running out for the Seagulls to lock McGill down to a new deal.

Last June, Canada wasted little time in calling up the gifted keeper to their squad for the 2024 Copa America in the United States.