Steven Gerrard has revealed the secret role he played in Liverpool signing Virgil van Dijk back in January 2018. The Dutchman joined the Reds in a then club-record £75m deal from Southampton, which was memorably announced on December 27 as the centre-back posed alongside a Christmas tree.
Van Dijk's 2017 call to Gerrard
Liverpool had tried to sign Van Dijk in the summer of 2017, with the Netherlands international making it clear he wanted to move to Merseyside despite rival interest from Man City and Chelsea. But the Reds were forced to step back and wait until the winter as they apologised to Southampton for making an illegal approach for their player.
Liverpool eventually got their man with both club and player not looking back since. In his eight and a half years at Anfield, Van Dijk has won every major honour, captained the Reds to Premier League glory and established himself as one of their greatest ever players.
Gerrard's advice and Van Dijk's decision
Gerrard has now revealed that the defender actually called him in 2017 to seek his advice when still trying to decide which club he should sign for. “He phoned me at the time actually,” Gerrard recalled. “I knew his agent really well. It was City, Liverpool.
“He said to me, ‘I haven’t phoned you to sort of push me one way or the other, because I know which way you’re going to push me. But just tell me a little bit about Liverpool?’
“I just said to him, ‘Look, if it’s about what the clubs stand for and what the clubs are about, you’re wasting your time because I think you already know the answer to that.’
“It was an interesting conversation and I was so happy that he chose us.”
Van Dijk on the influence of Liverpool legends
Gerrard appeared alongside Van Dijk and Graeme Souness in a new LFC original film, ‘Captains’, which will be released in full on All Red on Tuesday 18 August. After listening to the Scouse recall their conversation, Van Dijk revealed how Gerrard, Jordan Henderson and Jurgen Klopp all played a decisive role in him choosing to sign for Liverpool.
“Of course I [remember the call],” he said. “Obviously yourself and Hendo were very important for me, together with Jurgen.
“For me to speak to you, it was already massive. That feeling of, like, I wanted to play for this club so badly, it was so intense.
“And the fans embraced me from day one. Scoring also against Everton [on his debut] helped massively too!”
