Liverpool will complete the signing of Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk from Southampton when the transfer window re-opens on January 1 for a world record fee of £75 million.

Van Dijk had been expected to join the reds last summer but a move fell through when Liverpool apologized for making an alleged illegal approach for the 26-year-old.

The fee is the most ever paid for a defender and surpasses the previous record of £52 paid by Manchester City to French title holders AS Monaco for Benjamin Mendy in July.

Van Dijk, who joined Southampton from Scottish champions Celtic for £13 million in September 2015, is expected to earn around £200,000 pounds per week as part of the transfer.

Liverpool announced the signing on Twitter as they posted a picture of Van Dijk posing with a Reds shirt standing in front of a Christmas tree at his house.

The Netherlands international said in a statement he was “delighted and honoured” to sign for the Merseyside club and accepted he had had a “difficult last few months” at St Mary’s.

“Delighted and honoured to have agreed to become a Liverpool FC player. Today is a proud day for me and my family as I join one of the biggest clubs in world football.

“I can’t wait to pull on the famous red shirt for the first time in front of the Kop and will give everything I have to try and help this great club achieve something special in the years to come.

Though he will join the club on January 1, Van Dijk will not be able to register as a player until January 2 and will not be available for Liverpool’s trip to Burnley on Monday.

The Anfield club also announced he will wear the number four shirt.

The Van Dijk fee tops the £48m release clause the Reds have agreed for RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita, who will move to Anfield next summer.