Virgil van Dijk and Jude Bellingham react to ‘honoured’ new Liverpool signing
Virgil van Dijk and Jude Bellingham have reacted to a new message to Liverpool fans following his arrival on Merseyside.
Liverpool won their second Premier League title at a canter last month, as they finished on 84 points, 10 ahead of their nearest title rivals Arsenal.
Arne Slot is unlikely to need to delve too deep into the transfer market after their success, with both Mohamed Salah and Van Dijk set to remain at the club after each signing new two-year contracts.
The Dutch boss has already moved to bolster his right-back options after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit was confirmed, though, with Bayer Leverkusen man Jeremie Frimpong joining the Anfield side in a deal believed to be worth up to €35million (£29.6m) according to The Athletic.
Liverpool announced the 24-year-old’s arrival just hours after they had confirmed that Alexander-Arnold would be moving to Real Madrid, and he has now taken to social media to connect with supporters.
Virgil van Dijk and Jude Bellingham react to Jeremie Frimpong message
Frimpong officially joined Liverpool on 30 May, signing a five-year deal after four-and-a-half years with Leverkusen that saw him help the club win the 2023/24 Bundesliga after going unbeaten throughout the season.
He spoke of his pride at joining the Reds on Instagram, stating: “Seeing the smiles on the people you love means everything. Grateful and honoured to be a red. Let’s get this started.”
His message gained attention from across the footballing world, with fellow Netherlands international and new club teammate Van Dijk commenting with a raised-hands celebration emoji, while he and Real Madrid star Bellingham each liked the post.
Dominic Solanke, Mohammed Kudus and Yoane Wissa also moved to like Frimpong’s message, while Liverpool man Ryan Gravenberch added “Yesss lad” with a heart emoji below his post to further reinforce the excitement of having the right-back on board at Anfield.
Frimpong has big boots to fill following Alexander-Arnold’s departure
Football Insider verdict
Frimpong is an ideal signing for Liverpool as they look to replace a player of Alexander-Arnold’s stature and talent, with the England star having been a key man for his boyhood club since he emerged as a first-team starter back in 2017.
With that said, it will certainly not be easy for the 24-year-old to immediately have the same impact on Arne Slot’s starting eleven heading into next season.
The Reds’ new arrival moved to England from the Netherlands with his family when he was seven years-old, and was a product of Manchester City’s academy before he joined Celtic in 2019.
He never made a senior appearance for the Citizens, and is yet to ever play in the Premier League, having spent two years with the Glasgow giants before moving on to Leverkusen in 2021.
| Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists |
| 33 | 25 | 5 | 6 |
It can always be tough for a player to adapt to a new league, especially with the high expectations and demands set at Liverpool following their title win.
Frimpong certainly seems like a shrewd signing right now, but it may take him some time to adjust to his new surroundings on Merseyside, as a result of his lack of experience in the English top-flight.