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Jeremie Frimpong has hailed Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)

Jeremie Frimpong appears to have always harboured lofty ambitions of becoming one of the best players in the world.

And the Reds' newest star once hailed Virgil Van Dijk as his inspiration for that.

The Dutch international put pen to paper on a five year deal with Liverpool on Friday.



Before moving to the Premier League with Southampton, Van Dijk also spent three seasons in Glasgow with the Hoops, and Frimpong has kept an eye on his Netherlands team-mate's career ever since with an objective to replicate his success.

Frimpong even claimed that Van Dijk's near capture of the prestigious Ballon d'Or award in 2019, when he finished runner-up behind Lionel Messi, has worked as his motivation to reach the top.

"Look at Virgil Van Dijk,' he told Mail Sport in December 2019.

He was so close.

Jeremie Frimpong and Virgil van Dijk have formed a bond on international duty with the Netherlands(Image: 2024 BSR Agency)

"So can I be the best player there is?

In three years at Leverkusen under Reds' icon Xabi Alonso, the speedy wing-back won three major trophies, including a memorable Bundesliga title in the 2023/2024 season.

While the former Manchester City academy star has set a high bar for himself, the 24-year-old is still aiming to learn from the best, emphasising his hopes of forming a partnership with Mohamed Salah.

Jeremie Frimpong went toe-to-toe for Bayer Leverkusen against Liverpool and Van Dijk this season(Image: Getty Images)

"Playing with world-class players as a footballer is a great feeling, it’s a privilege, like ‘I’m going to be next to Mo Salah'," he said.

"Not just him, the whole Liverpool squad.

He claims that the likes of Van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch, as well as Slot and his staff, have all been in touch with him in a bid to make his adjustment to life on Merseyside a smooth one.

"I have had a few conversations with them," said Frimpong.
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