Evangelos Marinakis signs another goalkeeper: Ex-Manchester United keeper’s son joins Rio Ave
Evangelos Marinakis adds to his growing list of goalkeeping recruits as Rio Ave sign Ennio van der Gouw, son of former Manchester United keeper Raimond van der Gouw
Evangelos Marinakis adds to his growing list of goalkeeping recruits as Rio Ave sign Ennio van der Gouw, son of former Manchester United keeper Raimond van der Gouw
Evangelos Marinakis’ fascination with goalkeepers shows no sign of slowing down. The Greek shipping magnate, who owns Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos and Rio Ave, has overseen a remarkable turnover of shot-stoppers across his footballing portfolio in recent years, and deadline day brought yet another addition.
This time, the move does not concern Nottingham Forest directly, despite the club becoming synonymous with frequent goalkeeping changes since their promotion to the Premier League in 2022.
Their signing of Stefan Ortega from Manchester City means that Forest have signed 11 goalkeepers since their return to England’s top division three and a half years ago.
Instead, Marinakis has turned his attention to Portugal, where Rio Ave have completed the signing of Ennio van der Gouw from Belgian side Zulte Waregem.
The 21-year-old goalkeeper has joined Rio Ave on a six-month loan deal, which includes an option to buy at the end of the season.
While the move may have flown under the radar for some, it comes with an intriguing backstory that links back to the Premier League.
Bem-vindo à tua nova casa, Ennio. 🏟️#RemamosJuntos #EnnioVanderGouw #rioavefc pic.twitter.com/bIdRf03CQi
— Rio Ave FC (@RioAve_FC) February 2, 2026
A familiar name with Premier League roots
Ennio van der Gouw is the son of Raimond van der Gouw, the former Manchester United goalkeeper who spent six years at Old Trafford as a trusted deputy during Sir Alex Ferguson’s era.
Born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, Ennio’s early life was shaped by English football before he embarked on his own professional journey on the continent.
Van der Gouw began his career in the Netherlands with FC Twente, though he did not make a first-team appearance for the Eredivisie side. In search of regular football, he moved to VVV-Venlo in 2022, where he made his professional debut and quickly established himself as a reliable presence, making 32 senior appearances.
His performances earned him a transfer to Zulte Waregem in 2023, where he has since played 31 matches in Belgian football, continuing his development as a modern goalkeeper comfortable with distribution and decision-making.
The move to Rio Ave represents another step forward, offering Van der Gouw exposure to Primeira Liga football and a chance to impress within the Marinakis-owned network.
Given the owner’s history of moving players between clubs under his control, strong performances in Portugal could yet open further doors elsewhere in Europe.
