[Archive 2017-12-30] Football: Liverpool reaches agreement with Southampton FC to sign van Dijk

Historical archive — originally published 2017-12-30. This report records what was known on that date. It is not current news; subsequent events may have changed the situation. Wikinews closed in May 2026.

On Wednesday, English football club Liverpool FC announced reaching an agreement with Southampton FC to sign Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk. According to the reports, the Dutchman would cost Liverpool £75 million making him the most expensive defender of all time as well as the most expensive player in Liverpool's history.

In an Instagram post, van Dijk wrote, "Delighted and honoured to have agreed to become a Liverpool FC player!" The defender is to join Liverpool on January 1, when the transfer window opens. He is to wear number 4 jersey, the club announced on their website. The Reds tried to sign the Dutchman in summer after he formally requested a transfer.

van Dijk joined The Saints in 2015 for a fee of £13 million from Celtic and he penned a six-year contract with the club last year. Since 2014, Liverpool has signed five players from Southampton for about £171.5 million.

Liverpool is currently fourth in the Premier League table with 41 points in 21 games. They have conceded 24 goals in the league this season. Seventeen points behind league leaders Manchester City, Liverpool is scheduled to play Burnley in an away game on January 1, but would not be able to field van Dijk.

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