Liverpool have announced they have agreed a club-record deal to sign Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk from Southampton. The club posted a picture of the Netherlands defender on their website holding a Liverpool jersey and saying that he will join the team when the transfer window reopens on Jan. 1.
A source close to Liverpool said the fee for the deal was £75 million, which would make Van Dijk the most expensive transfer in club history and also constitute a record fee for a defender.
Southampton also confirmed the deal, announcing: "Southampton Football Club can confirm it has reached an agreement with Liverpool over the transfer of Virgil van Dijk.
"Southampton have agreed a fee that will set a new world-record for a defender. The club wishes Virgil well in his future when the deal is completed on January 1st 2018.''
Liverpool had held a long-standing interest in the Netherlands defender and wanted to sign him in the summer until they were forced to publicly apologise to Southampton amid tapping-up allegations.
Speculation had been rife regarding Van Dijk's future after he was absent from the matchday squad for Southampton's last two games.
