Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk will join Liverpool when the transfer window re-opens on 1 January in a world record \u00a375m deal.<\/p>\n
The Netherlands international had been expected to join the Reds last summer after he\u00a0handed in a transfer request.<\/p>\n
But a move fell through\u00a0when Liverpool apologised\u00a0for making an alleged illegal approach for the 26-year-old.<\/p>\n
The fee is the most ever paid for a defender – Manchester City paid \u00a352m to\u00a0Monaco for Benjamin Mendy\u00a0in July.<\/p>\n
Van Dijk said in a statement he was “delighted and honoured” to sign for the Merseyside club and accepted he had had a “difficult last few months” at St Mary’s.<\/p>\n
He was left out of Southampton’s squad for their 5-2 Premier League defeat by Tottenham on Tuesday, prompting\u00a0speculation he was set to leave<\/i>\u00a0the club.<\/p>\n
“Southampton have agreed a fee that will set a new world record for a defender,” the south coast club confirmed on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The player only signed a new six-year contract last year, having joined the Saints from Celtic for \u00a313m in September 2015.<\/p>\n
However, Liverpool’s interest in the summer prompted a transfer request from the player which saw him forced to train alone by manager Mauricio Pellegrino.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0returned to first team action\u00a0in September, featuring in a win at Crystal Palace.<\/p>\n
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 deal.<\/p>\n
Though he will join the club on 1 January, Van Dijk will not be able to register as a player until 2 January so will not be available for Liverpool’s trip to Burnley on Monday.<\/p>\n
The Anfield club also announced he will wear the number four shirt.<\/p>\n
The Van Dijk fee tops the \u00a348m release clause the Reds\u00a0have agreed for RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita,\u00a0who will move to Anfield next summer.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk will join Liverpool when the transfer window re-opens on 1 January in a world record \u00a375m deal. The Netherlands international had been expected to join the Reds last summer after he\u00a0handed in a transfer request. But a move fell through\u00a0when Liverpool apologised\u00a0for making an alleged illegal approach for the 26-year-old. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":386977,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n