Finally, Virgil van Dijk is a Liverpool player. Or at least he will be when the transfer window opens next week…
The Dutch defender was heavily linked with a move to Anfield at the end of last season, only for Southampton to stand firm on their not-for-sale stance throughout the summer.
Following a number of reports that the transfer was close, a statement posted by Liverpool on Wednesday afternoon confirmed that a fee had been agreed with the south coast club.
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
According to reports, the 26-year-old will cost Liverpool €84m – a club record and a world record fee for a defender.
Southampton are reportedly hoping to spend a sizeable chunk of the money they receive from the deal to improve Mauricio Pellegrino’s squad in the January window. They will not, however, be receiving all of the €84m fee being quoted in the press.
Celtic, who van Dijk joined Southampton from in 2015, are also set to take a cut of the fee. The Daily Record report the Scottish champions will receive between 10 and 15% of the profit made by Southampton. The Saints signed Van Dijk for€14.6m, meaning the money Celtic should receive from the deal will likely be somewhere in excess of €6m.
Van Dijk is expected to make his Liverpool debut in the third round FA Cup tie with Everton on January 5.
I like Santa Claus.
But I like Virgil Van Dijk’s Sell On Clause even more.#Celtic
— Dominik Diamond (@DominikDiamond) December 27, 2017
Virgil van Dijk becomes the joint seventh most expensive player in football history. I believe Celtic will trouser £7.5m of the £75m
— Tom English (@TEnglishSport) December 27, 2017
