Liverpool have reached an agreement to sign Holland U19 defender Sepp Van Den Berg from PEC Zwolle.
The Champions League winners have announced the highly rated 17-year-old will join them in July after finalising a deal – subject to international clearance – understood to be worth an initial £1.3 million.
Van Den Berg, who made 15 appearances for the Eredivisie side last season, has agreed on a ‘long-term contract’ at Anfield and will become Jurgen Klopp’s first signing of the summer.
Van Den Berg told the Premier League club’s website: ‘It’s just an amazing feeling. It is, for me, the biggest club in the world and it’s a dream come true. I am really excited.
Welcome to Liverpool FC, Sepp 🙌 #LFC have agreed a deal with PEC Zwolle for the transfer of Sepp van den Berg 🔴 https://t.co/Mf8uphGrAY
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 27, 2019
‘I’ve seen what kind of players from the academy grew into the first team here. It is unbelievable, especially when this kind of big club does that.
‘Of course, the trainer [Klopp] is a great guy and one of the reasons they are successful – and also one of the reasons I came here. I think this is the best place for me to grow and hopefully play a lot of games here.’
Van Den Berg, who has four U19 caps, will join the first-team squad but is expected to be eased into action with games in the academy side.