Virgil van Dijk's then-record-breaking transfer to Liverpool in 2018 has become one of the most transformative in Premier League history.

However, seven years on, an ex-Southampton executive in charge of the deal has admitted he is embarrassed by the saga in hindsight.

Van Dijk completed a then-world record transfer for a defender when he sealed a £75million move to Liverpool in January 2018.

He instantly endeared himself to the Kop by scoring an 84th-minute winner on his debut against rivals Everton in the FA Cup. Laura Woods laughs off awkward Virgil van Dijk slip of the tongue

The Dutchman has since become a Champions League winner and a two-time Premier League champion en route to becoming captain .

Van Dijk even won UEFA Men’s Player of the Year in 2019 and finished

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