Southampton announce Virgil van Dijk signing

Southampton have announced that Virgil van Dijk has joined the club from Celtic on a five-year contract.

The Dutchman had been linked with the Premier League side throughout the summer, with the move thought to be dependent on the Scottish champions' exit from the Champions League.

The 24-year-old told his new club's website: "I'm delighted. It was a very easy decision to join this club. This is a very ambitious club, who have been doing very well in the last couple of years. It's a great place to be and it's the right step for me.

"For me now to get the opportunity to play in the Premier League is unbelievable and I will enjoy it. I know it's an ambitious club, they have been through a lot throughout the years. They are trying to play football and that's something that really attracted me.

"I'm so excited. I hope to settle in really quick, get everything around football sorted, start playing and enjoying it because the most important thing in football is to have fun and enjoy every day."

Van Dijk will play alongside former Groningen teammate Dusan Tadic at St Mary's.