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Virgil van Dijk seals 'perfect' move to Liverpool from Southampton

Liverpool's new £75million defender Virgil van Dijk is seen before kick-off in the Premier League match against Leicester at Anfield
Image: Virgil van Dijk was at Anfield on Saturday to see his new team beat Leicester

Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool is the "perfect match" after his world record move from Southampton was officially completed on New Year's Day.

The 26-year-old's £75m switch from the Saints was agreed on December 27, but with the January transfer window now open, his deal - the highest fee ever paid for a defender - is now sealed.

The Dutchman told the club's website: "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 for my family as well.

"Obviously there is a lot of money being paid, but I can't do anything about that money. It's only the market.

"The only thing I can do is just work hard, do the good things and be 100 per cent every day. That's what I definitely want to do - and I am going to do."

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Watch Van Dijk get used to his new surroundings at Anfield as he witnessed Liverpool's win against Leicester last weekend

The agreed fee for Van Dijk is a world-record sum for a defender, topping Manchester City's deal to sign Kyle Walker in July.

Van Dijk was keen on a move last summer and handed in a transfer request at St Mary's, but Liverpool ended their pursuit when the Saints complained they had made an illegal approach for the centre-back.

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Working under Jurgen Klopp is a prospect that excites the club's new number four.

The former Groningen and Celtic defender added: "Since he [Klopp] has come in, I think he has made a lot of progress until now and I think it is only hopefully going to get better and better.

"Hopefully I can contribute to that as well and keep working hard. Everybody obviously from a Liverpool perspective knows how he is; how lively he is, how he can make players better and give them confidence as well.

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"It just suits me as well. I think he can make me a better player and I am just looking forward to working with him."

Van Dijk is unavailable for Liverpool's New Year's Day game at Burnley as his registration will not be concluded in time.

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