Liverpool agree $100m deal for Southampton defender Van Dijk

Liverpool have agreed to sign Netherlands international Virgil van Dijk from Southampton for a reported world record fee for a defender, both Premier League clubs said Wednesday. "The Reds have agreed a deal with the south coast club, and the player himself, that will see the 26-year-old defender move to Anfield when the transfer window re-opens on January 1, 2018," Liverpool said in a statement.

Liverpool Football Club can confirm they have reached an agreement with Southampton for the transfer of Virgil van Dijk.

Full story: https://t.co/tJy9vsGOen pic.twitter.com/L17A7UwqaU— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 27, 2017

"The Netherlands international will be assigned squad No 4, upon his arrival at Liverpool." Southampton confirmed they "agreed new world-record transfer fee" for a defender for Van Dijk, with British media reporting the figure to be around 75m pounds ($100.44m).

#SaintsFC has reached an agreement with #LFC over the transfer of @VirgilvDijk in January. Full statement: https://t.co/BKhX6Q1mTm

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 27, 2017

Van Dijk was expected to join the Merseyside club at the start of the season after he had handed in a transfer request to Southampton. But the move fell through when Liverpool were forced to make a public apology after being accused of making an illegal approach for the player.