Liverpool signed Virgil van Dijk from Southampton for a world record transfer fee for a defender at £75million and handed him shirt No 4. He is now the most expensive defender in the world right now beating Mancheter City's Kyle Walker.
The former Celtic and Groningen defender will be joining Liverpool from 1st January, 2018 when the January transfer window opens after signing a contract worth more than £180,000 per week that will run until June 2023. Van Dijk had a medical on the south coast on Wednesday, with Southampton's consent, after the two clubs agreed on the fee.
He has been a target for some clubs recent seasons including current EPL leader Manchester City, Chelsea etc. Guardiola was eager to add him to the squad toward the end of the transfer market but Southampton held-on.
Now, he joined Liverpool as the record signing and he can be in the squad for UEFA Champions League, he is eligible for the FA Cup in third round and as well as help them to fight on in the League. He will be 6th players that Southampton had sold to Liverpool in recent time since 2014 to date which is amount to £168.5m between the two clubs, with players like Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne and Sadio Mane moving to Liverpool.
Rickie Lambert - £4m - June 2014
Adam Lallana - £25m - July 2014
Dejan Lovren - £20m - July 2014
Nathaniel Clyne - £12.5m - July 2015
Sadio Mane - £30m - June 2016
Virgil van Dijk - £75m - January 2018
Mike Gordon, president of Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, made concerted efforts to improve relations between the clubs and it got to the point where there was a possibility of him moving to Anfield on deadline day in August, though it could not be finalised.
The 26-year-old Holland international said "I'm Delighted and honoured to have agreed to become a Liverpool 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 (technical director) Les Reed, the board, manager, players and 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.'
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