Van Dijk is likely to make his debut in the FA Cup tie with Everton

Virgil van Dijk has become the world’s most expensive defender after Liverpool fended off interest from Manchester City to strike a stunning £75 million deal with Southampton for the 26-year-old.

The Holland centre back said that he was “honoured” to be moving to “one of the biggest clubs in world football” after negotiations between the clubs reached an agreement.

Van Dijk will be a Liverpool player when the transfer window opens on New Year’s Day and is in line to make his debut in the FA Cup third-round tie with Everton a week tomorrow.

Van Dijk has become the world’s most expensive defender TWITTER/LFC

He has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal that will run until the summer of 2023 and is worth about £180,000 a week. Van Dijk, whose fee outstrips the £54 million that City