Liverpool’s seize of Virgil van Dijk in January 2018 is now considered one of the vital necessary transfers in trendy soccer, however a former Southampton govt has admitted the Saints badly mishandled the scenario.
Through ESPN UK, their former CEO Martin Semmens defined why the saga dragged on for months and ended with what he now calls an “embarrassing” chapter for the south coast membership.
“We stored him till January. It wasn’t good for the squad or the setting, however to be clear, Virgil by no means stated one unfavourable phrase to anyone.
“We felt, on the time, we may get extra if he stayed. He’d had a nasty harm, I believe he’d been out for six to 9 months, and we felt that he owed us, which is embarrassing now, I believe again to it.
“There was additionally some contact from Liverpool we didn’t love. At the moment, most likely a bit of extra for the morals, he had already met Klopp earlier than he instructed us.”
If we then think about the identical man has labelled one other Liverpool defender ‘the following Van Dijk’, we needs to be excited by our present squad too.
Van Dijk’s Liverpool switch modified all the pieces
Van Dijk’s £75m transfer to Anfield set a world-record charge for a defender on the time, however inside 18 months he was a Champions League winner and now a two-time Premier League champion with us.
The Dutchman went on to win UEFA Males’s Participant of the Yr in 2019 and completed second within the Ballon d’Or behind Lionel Messi.
He’s now bought such a standing within the recreation that former golf equipment are naming stands after the person who continues to be on the peak of his powers at Anfield.
Few signings have ever had such a direct and lasting impression on a aspect, with our again line remodeled in a single day.
It’s a reminder of how decisive Liverpool may be within the switch market, simply as we have been once more this summer time with the arrivals of Florian Wirtz for £116m and Alexander Isak for a British report £125m.
Liverpool made the proper name with Van Dijk
Whereas Southampton now admit their dealing with of the saga was poor, the defender’s transfer to Merseyside reshaped our historical past.
From Madrid nights to lifting the Premier League trophy, Van Dijk’s arrival is proof of why the membership should at all times again daring strikes within the switch market.
You possibly can view the quote on Van Dijk by way of @ESPNUK on X:
Former Southampton CEO has admitted he considers Saints’ dealing with of Virgil van Dijk’s 2018 transfer to Liverpool as “embarrassing” 😳
🗣️ “We stored him till January. It wasn’t good for the squad or the setting, however to be clear, Virgil by no means stated one unfavourable phrase to anyone.… pic.twitter.com/fLXXECbhm2
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) September 12, 2025
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