- Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg has joined Brentford from Liverpool
- Brentford will pay the Reds up to £25m for the 22-year-old centre-back
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Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg has signed a £25million deal with Brentford.
Mail Sport revealed earlier this week that Thomas Frank’s team are leading the hunt for the Dutch central defender, despite interest from Bayer Leverkusen.
The 22-year-old player underwent a medical on Thursday and signed a five-year contract.
Van den Berg left Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle for Liverpool in 2019 for £4.4 million. He played four games for the club from Anfield.
However, it was his standout season with Mainz in the Bundesliga that put him on the minds of Brentford and other top clubs.
Sepp van den Berg, 22, pictured in pre-season training for Liverpool, has signed for Brentford
Defender Van den Berg (right) impressed during a loan spell at Mainz in Germany last season
Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim and Mainz were all interested, as were PSV Eindhoven, but they struggled to match Liverpool’s valuation.
“I am very pleased that we have been able to sign Sepp,” head coach Thomas Frank told Brentford’s website. “I think he is a great addition to the club and the team.
‘Sepp is a central defender with a good level and he has the potential to develop further.
‘He fits our culture and the way we want to play: he is fast, reads the game well and is calm on the ball in build-up play and in decisive defensive actions.
‘Sepp is a great character and I am convinced that he will fit in well with the group and help us move forward.’
Van den Berg succeeds Fabio Carvalho (left) and will leave Liverpool for Brentford this summer
Brentford have a good relationship with Liverpool, having signed 21-year-old attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho earlier this summer.
Another attacking midfielder, Bobby Clark, left Liverpool on Thursday to join Red Bull Salzburg for £10million.
But Liverpool’s summer sale may not be over yet. Defender Joe Gomez is still exploring potential opportunities before the window closes, while Nat Phillips could also be on the move.
In terms of potential incoming deals, Liverpool remain in talks to sign goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia, with the 23-year-old likely to return to Spain on loan.
Meanwhile, Brentford are also in the process of signing Brazilian winger Gustavo Nunes from Gremio for £10.2million.
Nunes only made his first-team debut in February. The deal includes a 20% sell-on for Gremio.