Van Dijk delight over 'perfect' Liverpool switch

Dom Farrell

Van Dijk delight over 'perfect' Liverpool switch image

Virgil van Dijk has described Liverpool as the perfect match for him after his world-record move from Southampton was finalised.

The Netherlands centre-back is now the most expensive defender in football history thanks to a £75 million switch from St Mary's to Anfield.

And he is hopeful that he will be able to properly showcase his talents under Jurgen Klopp on Merseyside.

"I am happy to be here and I can't wait to get started," Van Dijk told Liverpool's official website.

"I think the most important thing is the size of the club, the culture of the club, the players, the manager and obviously the fans, who make the club this special.

"With the history at the club and everything around it – even the training ground and stuff – it is just a perfect, perfect match for me, and a perfect match for my family as well."

The 26-year-old looked on from the stands as a Mohamed Salah brace sealed a 2-1 win for Liverpool over Leicester City on Saturday and he is looking forward to sampling the Anfield atmosphere from the pitch.

"I think it'll be something special," he said. "I think Anfield is a very special stadium and it is my home right now as well.

"I am just looking forward to being on the pitch, especially as a [home] player at the stadium. It's going to be nice, especially the evening games and the European nights."

Van Dijk added: "I hope to win trophies. Every player wants to win trophies and with this squad we have and the progress the club is making, I think we are very close to it."

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.