One of the longest running transfer sagas in Premier League history has ended, and Virgil van Dijk is now officially a Liverpool player.
At around 5pm on Wednesday, reports emerged that Liverpool were close to agreeing a transfer with Southampton worth £75m for Van Dijk. The reports claimed that the two Premier League clubs had been in negotiations for the player over the past few days, and had finally reached an agreement.
Then, just before 6pm on Wednesday, Liverpool confirmed the transfer, a world record fee for a defender, on their social media accounts.
Liverpool Football Club can confirm they have reached an agreement with Southampton for the transfer of Virgil van Dijk.
Full story: https://t.co/tJy9vsGOen pic.twitter.com/L17A7UwqaU
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 27, 2017
A short statement on the club’s website reads:
“Liverpool Football Club can confirm they have reached an agreement with Southampton for the transfer of Virgil van Dijk. The Reds have agreed a deal with the south coast club, and the player himself, that will see the 26-year-old defender move to Anfield when the transfer window re-opens on January 1, 2018. The Netherlands international will be assigned squad number four, upon his arrival at Liverpool.”
Van Dijk will officially join the club on January 1, when the transfer window opens, and will wear the number four jersey. Previous players to hold that squad number for Liverpool include Kolo Toure, Sami Hyypiä and Steve Nicol.
The official announcement brings an end to the long-running transfer saga. Back in the summer, Liverpool thought they were about to sign the 26-year-old, after reports emerged that Van Dijk had agreed to join Jurgen Klopp’s side in a deal worth £60m. However, Southampton got wind of the reported agreement between the player and the club, and they weren’t happy. They raised the issue with the Premier League, but, before things could develop any further, Liverpool backed away from the transfer.
Manchester City and Chelsea were reportedly both interested in Van Dijk, but Liverpool have beaten their rivals to the player’s signature, and have landed one the best defenders in the Premier League. Van Dijk will reportedly be paid £180,000 a week. He is now the world’s most expensive defender, eclipsing the £54m City paid last summer for Kyle Walker. Liverpool fans were delighted with the news.
https://twitter.com/ManeIite/status/946078073191092224
— Gordiniho (@Lee24Jordan) December 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/DeanCoombes/status/946078304691544069
https://twitter.com/rhodriwyn2002/status/946078302179119107
