Sepp van den Berg has revealed he rejected Arne Slot's request to stay at Liverpool after enduring 'dark days' during his time at the club. The Brentford defender is set to face his former side at Anfield on the final day of the 2025/26 season.
The Dutchman, now 24, joined Liverpool from PEC Zwolle in 2019 as a 17-year-old. He made his debut that year but was soon dropped to the reserves after four cup appearances. Living alone in a new country, he struggled with loneliness and mental health issues, recalling crying on his way home from training and not wanting to go in.
Van den Berg was offered a lifeline in the summer of 2024 when Slot, who had coached him as a child at PEC Zwolle, became Liverpool manager. Slot spoke to him as if he had a future at the club, but by then van den Berg had mentally checked out. 'In my own head, I was thinking, “Yeah, I’m ready but hopefully I’m not even coming back for pre-season,”' he said.
He signed for Brentford in August 2024 for a fee of up to £25 million. Reflecting on his time at Liverpool, he said: 'It was definitely dark days. As a 17-year-old boy coming in from a different country, you’re not the priority.' He added that he was 'constantly doubting himself' and 'didn’t want to go to training'.
Van den Berg has since become a key player for Brentford, making 37 appearances this season, including a 3-2 win over Liverpool in October. He credits his struggles with making him stronger, saying: 'It made me the guy I am today.'
