Virgil van Dijk: 'Liverpool perfect match for me'

Virgil van Dijk has said that he is delighted to have joined Liverpool from Southampton, describing his new club as the "perfect match" for him.

The Dutch centre-back is now the world's most expensive defender after finalising a £75m switch, which officially went through when the transfer window opened earlier today.

Van Dijk, who handed in a transfer request at Southampton in the summer, will not get his first taste of action until Liverpool face Everton in the FA Cup next week.

Despite the record-breaking fee, though, the 26-year-old does not believe that he has a point to prove.

"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," he told the club's official website.

"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% every day. That's what I definitely want to do - and I am going to do.

"Since [Jurgen 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. 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 had featured 12 times for Southampton this season prior to sealing his move to Liverpool.