• Dutch defender officially seals world-record transfer from Southampton • ‘With the history at the club it is just a perfect match for me,’ he says

Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool are the “perfect match” for him after his world-record move from Southampton was officially completed on Monday.

The 26-year-old’s switch from St Mary’s to Anfield was agreed last week but with the January transfer window now open his deal, understood to be worth £75m – the highest fee ever paid for a defender – is now sealed.

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“I think the most important thing is the size of the club, the culture of the club, the players, the manager and obviously the fans, who make the club this special,” the Dutchman said. “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. I think this is the right time for me to be here and to develop all sorts of aspects of my game. I am looking forward to doing that, that’s the main thing.”

Van Dijk, who has signed what Liverpool have said is a “long-term contract” at Anfield, is not concerned about his price tag weighing heavy. The transfer fee eclipses the £53m spent by Manchester City to sign the England full-back Kyle Walker from Tottenham Hotspur last summer.

“Obviously there is a lot of money being paid but I can’t do anything about that money, I can’t do anything about the price – nobody can,” Van Dijk added. “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.”

Van Dijk is unavailable for Liverpool’s New Year’s Day game at Burnley because his registration will not be concluded in time but he could make his debut in Friday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Everton at Anfield.