Today In History: Liverpool Make Van Dijk World's Most Expensive Defender
On December 27, 2017 Liverpool agreed a £75m deal with Southampton to make Virgil Van Dijk the most expensive defender in world football at the time.
A Southampton statement read: “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 1, 2018.”
The deal was ratified on January 1, 2018 and Van Dijk made his Liverpool debut four days later, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Everton in the FA Cup.
Van Dijk has proved value for money since moving to Anfield, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
In the summer of 2019, Manchester United signed Harry Maguire for £80m from Leicester City to overtake Van Dijk as the world's most expensive defender.
