Van Dijk to Liverpool features as one of six club-record transfers that actually worked out

Virgil van Dijk transformed Liverpool’s fortunes, but he is not the only club-record signing that has had a fantastic impact. We pick six big-money deals that worked out very well for everyone involved.

You can read our piece on six players who flopped after becoming a club’s record transfer here. All prices come via Transfermarkt.

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

In 2018, Liverpool smashed the transfer record that was previously held by Mo Salah to bring in long-term target Virgil van Dijk from former feeder club Southampton for £75m. He was just about the final piece in Jurgen Klopp’s puzzle before the addition of Alisson in the following transfer window. As soon as Van Dijk joined, Liverpool became a completely different animal. They went from dropping stupid points to being feared by everyone and became pretty much unbeatable at Anfield.

After losing in the Champions League final shortly after the Dutch defender’s arrival, Alisson completed the back five as they romped to European success. The Reds also won their only Premier League title with Van Dijk in defence and he has made his partners all look utterly brilliant too. From Joel Matip to Ibrahima Konate, anyone can slot in next to Van Dijk and look like a world-beater.

Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan)

After struggling for Manchester United, Romelu Lukaku made a very healthy career move and ditched the Premier League for Serie A, and pretty quickly after returning to England last year, he knew he’d gone full Gob Bluth and made a huge mistake. Lukaku also broke Chelsea’s transfer record (it has not gone well) and became the most expensive player by accumulative transfer fees in the process.

Ignoring his disappointing second stint at Stamford Bridge, the Belgian striker was