Van Dijk, the Liverpool titan: Twelve things you didn't know about him

From his debut at Dutch side Groningen, to a spell at Celtic, being linked with Sevilla and ending up becoming the most expensive defender in history, here are twelve things you didn't know about Liverpool's new player.

He has only been international on 18 occasions

Despite being 26 years old and the Dutch having a defensive deficit, the new signing from Anfield has only played 18 games for his national team.

Van Dijk's Maradona goal With

Celtic, Van Dijk scored a goal worthy of Messi himself, leaving six opponents behind to finish next to the post.

It could have been another Monchi bombshell

In 2014, Sevilla tried to sign him, but Celtic eventually sold him to Southampton for just over 15 million euros.

He was part of Celtic's record-breaking defence

At Celtic he was part of the defence that went 1,215 minutes without conceding a goal.

Last year he was seriously injured

On January 31, 2017, he suffered a fracture of the malleolus (injury to the soft tissue of the ankle) that kept him out for the rest of the season.

More than 400 million in a decade

With his sale, Southampton have broken the barrier of 400 million euros raised in sales over the last decade, only within reach of the biggest football sellers.

Always in the team of the year in Scotland

At Celtic he was included in the team of the year during both seasons he spent in Scotland.

Origin of champions

His mother is from Suriname, a former colony of the Netherlands, and he has dual nationality. Players like Kluivert , Rijkaard , Edgar Davis and Clarence Seedorf are from the same background .

"Disconnects when the game is comfortable"

"Van Dijk's biggest problem is that he can switch off when things are going well," Celtic scout Neil McGuinness said when the defender joined Southampton.

More expensive than the Mexican champion's squad

The Dutchman is more expensive than the entire Tigres squad, champion of Mexico. He has also cost more than the most expensive eleven players in the Mexican League.

Oriol Romeu took the MVP from Southampton

He was named Southampton's best player in the 2015-16 season, last season it was taken from him by the Spaniard Oriol Romeu, taking advantage of his injury.

Rio Ferdinand 'crazy' with him

Rio Ferdinand said about him: "When you find someone like Virgil van Dijk, who is very good on the ball, but also very good in defence, you start to jump and go crazy ."