Virgil van Dijk on his first conversation with Jürgen Klopp before joining Liverpool from Southampton:
🗣️ “Before I signed for Liverpool, Jürgen Klopp called me and completely changed my vision.
He didn’t speak to me like a manager trying to convince a player to join… he spoke to me like a man preparing someone for war.
He told me: ‘Virgil, Liverpool is sleeping right now, but we are going to wake this giant up again. I need leaders. I need monsters who are not afraid of pressure.’
That hit me hard.
Then he started talking about Anfield, the fans, the atmosphere on European nights. He said: ‘The moment you walk out at Anfield under the lights, your life will change forever.’
I already felt goosebumps before even wearing the shirt.
Klopp didn’t promise me easy success or trophies. He promised intensity, sacrifice, pain, hard work, and the chance to become part of Liverpool history.
That honesty made me trust him instantly.
The moment I arrived, I understood everything he meant. The pressure was huge, but the love from the fans was even bigger.
Looking back now, joining Liverpool wasn’t just a transfer… it was the decision that changed my entire career.”