Liverpool Sign Defender Virgil van Dijk For £75M From Southampton

Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Southampton defender Virgil Van Dijk for a world record £75 million fee for a defender

Both clubs have confirmed that the deal will be completed on 1 January 2018, and Van Dijk will be assigned the number four shirt when he arrives at Anfield.

In a statement from the Saints, the club said: “Southampton have agreed a fee that will set a new world-record for a defender. The club wishes Virgil well in his future when the deal is completed.”

The previous world record transfer for a defender was the £54m that Manchester City spent on Kyle Walker last summer.

Van Dijk’s former club Celtic will benefit from the record transfer fee – the Scottish champions are understood to have had a 10% sell-on agreement on any future transfer.

Virgil Van Dijk said on instagram

Delighted and honoured to have agreed to become a Liverpool FC player! 🔴🔴🔴Today is a proud day for me and my family as I join one of the biggest clubs in world football! I can’t wait to pull on the famous red shirt for the first time in front of the Kop and will give everything I have to try and help this great club achieve something special in the years to come ⚽️ I would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Les Reed, the board, manager, players, fans and everyone at Southampton. I will always be indebted to the club for giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League and despite a difficult last few months I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Saints and have made friends for life at the club. Thank you for everything 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Thank you for all the messages of support 💪🏾 I’m now looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and getting started 🔴 #YNWA