Sepp van den Berg has completed his loan move to Schalke for the 2022/23 season after signing a new long-term contract with Liverpool.
The Netherlands Under-21s international had attracted interest from a plethora of clubs across Europe, including both Blackburn Rovers and Burnley, having impressed during a successful 18-month loan stint with Preston North End. However, Jurgen Klopp had been reluctant to sanction a loan departure too early after losing both Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip to injury.
However, after the Cameroonian returned to training on Monday, the Reds have now finalised the 20-year-old’s temporary exit with Van den Berg, who had been on the bench for all four of Liverpool ’s Premier League outings so far this season, opting for a switch to newly-promoted Bundesliga outfit Schalke.
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The German outfit have confirmed that both parties have agreed not to disclose any financial details regarding the deal, though it’s been reported that they do not possess an option to buy the Dutchman, who will wear the number five shirt during his stay in Gelsenkirchen.
“I was delighted when I heard that a club with such a rich tradition like Schalke was interested in me,” Van den Berg told the club when explaining his decision to join the Bundesliga side. “My final, decisive factor was the talks I had with Rouven Schroder and Frank Kramer.
“They really excited me with the suggestions they had for the path I could take here. That is what really convinced me.”
“We are very happy that Sepp has decided to join us despite interest from other clubs,” Schalke sporting director Rouven Schroder said. “In Sepp, we have gained a fast, tough and strong central defender who will liven up the competition in the squad, just as we had planned following Malick Thiaw’s departure.
“We’re convinced that he has the potential to fill that current hole and he will compete with that exact same ambition.”
Head coach Frank Kramer added: “Sepp is a player who not only defends attentively, but can also get involved in the build-up play. This combination of physicality and technique makes him an interesting player for the centre of our defence. I am very pleased to have him in our team.”
Van den Berg has made four senior appearances for Liverpool since joining the Reds from PEC Zwolle in the summer of 2019, while he is in line to make his Schalke debut when their Bundesliga campaign continues away at VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
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