Gavin Bazunu has joined Standard Liège on loan

The Ireland goalkeeper has joined the Belgian club on loan until the end of the season.

The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper, 22, travelled to Belgium on Wednesday to finalise the deal, having struggled for game time at Southampton since recovering from an Achilles injury suffered last season.

Bazunu had little prospect of breaking into the starting XI as the club battles relegation, with Aaron Ramsdale established as the Saints’ first-choice goalkeeper.

Several clubs expressed interest in signing the former Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper, but Standard Liège moved quickly to secure his services.

The Belgian side urgently needed reinforcements after first-choice keeper Laurent Heinkert—playing just his fourth match since knee surgery—was forced off at half-time in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Cercle Brugge. His replacement, Matthieu Epolo, had only recently returned from a hamstring injury.

He becomes the second Irish goalkeeper to secure a loan move this transfer window, following Mark Travers’ switch to Middlesbrough from Bournemouth. Travers made his debut in last night’s 3-2 defeat to Sunderland.