Sepp van den Berg Player Thread (Loan to Mainz 05) (D)

Liverpool have agreed a deal with PEC Zwolle for the transfer of Sepp van den Berg, which will be completed in July subject to international clearance.

The 17-year-old defender has finalised terms on a long-term contract with the Reds after an agreement was reached with the Eredivisie club.

Van den Berg told Liverpoolfc.com: “It’s just an amazing feeling.

“It is, for me, the biggest club in the world and it’s a dream come true. I am really excited.

“I’ve seen what kind of players from the Academy grew into the first team here. It is unbelievable, especially when this kind of big club does that.

“Of course, the trainer [Jürgen Klopp] is a great guy and one of the reasons they are successful – and also one of the reasons I came here.

“I think this is the best place for me to grow and hopefully play a lot of games here.”

Van den Berg made 15 appearances in the Dutch top flight last season, helping Zwolle to a 13th place finish.

He is also an international for the Netherlands at U19 level, winning four caps to date.

Fee is initial £1.3M which could rise to £4.4M depending on first team appearances.

Good signing, apparently beat off interest from Bayern and Barfa (sorry, Barca).

From what I’ve read he’s not a. Academy signing, they see him possibly going into the first team sooner than later (ala Gomez).

Two words i thought i would never say: welcome sepp.

Welcome kid. If you're half as good as the last Dutch CB we signed you're in the world's top 5 already

“It is, for me, the biggest club in the world and it’s a dream come true. I am really excited.

Enough said.

Welcome to the club...

Van den Berg made 15 appearances in the Dutch top flight last season, helping Zwolle to a 13th place finish.

Damn, that is actually quite impressive for a 17 year old. I wonder if we will see him play for the first team this season.

Damn, that is actually quite impressive for a 17 year old. I wonder if we will see him play for the first team this season.

I’d put money on it if I were a gambling fella.

I am excited to see this young lad play his first minutes for us in pre-season.

All the talk around him sure got me hopefull that he'll develop into a good player for us but I'm excited to see and judge for myself.

A good signing and better value for money than De Ligt

I’d put money on it if I were a gambling fella.

Perhaps even becoming 4th choice if Lovren leaves...

Will he be in the first team squad in the preseason? Somewhere it said he starts with the Academy. Just wondering where he is seen in the depth chart vs. Hoever or Phillips.

Did any of the so called experts predict this signing,I am loving the way our club does it's transfer business.
                                            Welcome to the best club in the world Sepp and I hope you have a long and successfull career here.

It just makes so much sense for him to come here, best team in the world and the best defender, who is also Dutch, is here, it’s the perfect environment for him to grow.

Good signing, apparently beat off interest from Bayern and Barfa (sorry, Barca).

From what I’ve read he’s not a. Academy signing, they see him possibly going into the first team sooner than later (ala Gomez).

Your sources? 

He is a 17 year old kid. We have four senior centre backs already ahead of him and doubt he is already ahead of Hoever at this stage or Phillips even.

Your sources? 

He is a 17 year old kid. We have four senior centre backs already ahead of him and doubt he is already ahead of Hoever at this stage or Phillips even.

Reported in several outlets, with a couple of direct quotes.
Apparently, the club see him as being on a par, or slightly ahead of Gomez was when he arrived.

Straight into first team training, but also part of the development squad.

Media reporting that upon learning that we'd bid and were in talks with the kid, Bayern called Zwolle and Sepp himself to try and hijack the deal. Bodes well for him that he was so sought after, and good on him for making the right decision!

15 odd first team appearances in a big European league at 17 is impressive, looking forward to watching his development.

He will need Klopperising and then we will see how good he is but another player who could be here for 10 years or more we are building the future so well

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/desperate-calls-at-the-medical-bayern-tried-to-stop-van-den-berg-liverpool-deal/view/news/339303

Bayern had tried to convince PEC Zwolle’s van den Berg of a change to the Säbener road. On Wednesday, officials for the Bavarian club had a series of increasingly desperate phone calls with the player’s management in an attempt to stop his transfer to Liverpool.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/desperate-calls-at-the-medical-bayern-tried-to-stop-van-den-berg-liverpool-deal/view/news/339303

I think we should get revenge and unsettle Coman!

Your sources? 

He is a 17 year old kid. We have four senior centre backs already ahead of him and doubt he is already ahead of Hoever at this stage or Phillips even.

Verified account
@MelissaReddy_
The Sepp van den Berg deal will be formally completed on July 1. Given his age, developing the player will be #LFC’s objective, but he hasn’t been signed for the Academy. He is highly regarded and is expected to progress to the first team quickly

I highlighted the appropriate part for you, just in case you weren't able to pick it out.

I think we should get revenge and unsettle Coman!

FC Hollywood isn't used to competition so it would be magical to see them lose Coman while they're already short on wingers

Welcome to the club. Work hard and you will earn your chance too.

Happy 18th kiddo, best of luck.

Happy 18th kiddo, best of luck.

Happy birthday to him but in all honesty do any of you guys see this kid making it with us? He seems very average in the games I've seen, but he is still young.

Happy birthday to him but in all honesty do any of you guys see this kid making it with us? He seems very average in the games I've seen, but he is still young.

Dont know what to think, still to early days, need more time in his legs before any of us could predict his future.

Dont know what to think, still to early days, need more time in his legs before any of us could predict his future.

yes but if you compare him to Hoever for example then the ability and reading of the game is miles apart, Hoever almost looks ready to play for the senior team but Sepp would scare the sh*t out of me if he lined up in the senior team.

yes but if you compare him to Hoever for example then the ability and reading of the game is miles apart, Hoever almost looks ready to play for the senior team but Sepp would scare the sh*t out of me if he lined up in the senior team.

However also looks blessed with some superior physical traits, he’s quicker and more nimble/agile by the looks of it.  Den Berg is still so early in his LFC career so it’s best to evaluate a season or so down the line.

Are people really knocking an 18 year old kid, who played against players who are vastly more experienced and physically developed?

Anything for a whinge I suppose.

Let's face it, the kids got thrown to the wolves, through no fault of their own, or the club.

Prepared to give the dutch national set up and our coaching network the benefit of the doubt for a while.

Are people really knocking an 18 year old kid, who played against players who are vastly more experienced and physically developed?

Anything for a whinge I suppose.

Let's face it, the kids got thrown to the wolves, through no fault of their own, or the club.

Nothing to do with Physicality, no one is expecting to match that  it's about positioning and awareness and at the moment the jury is out .

Not based on the villa game but he seems for a cb timid as F**k,dunno if it's a language issue or if he's not settled in,confidance but something's not right with the way he's playing.

Nothing to do with Physicality, no one is expecting to match that  it's about positioning and awareness and at the moment the jury is out .

Not based on the villa game but he seems for a cb timid as F**k,dunno if it's a language issue or if he's not settled in,confidance but something's not right with the way he's playing.

oh have a day off you daft sods.

He's a kid playing in a team of kids against a premier league team.

ffs.

oh have a day off you daft sods.

He's a kid playing in a team of kids against a premier league team.

ffs.

Who is basing judgements solely based on playing against Villa because I ain't.  So thank you very much for your insight but I think I will judge a player based on what I have seen and what I have seen is not great and I stick by that hopefully it improves but I am usually pretty good at working a players ability out

Who is basing judgements solely based on playing against Villa because I ain't.  So thank you very much for your insight but I think I will judge a player based on what I have seen and what I have seen is not great and I stick by that hopefully it improves but I am usually pretty good at working a players ability out

Seeing CB's generally start really progressing between 26-28 i think i will give him 8-10 more years to judge him, he's still growing into his body; and figure our scouts figured his ability with that in mind.

Relax boys, this kid is going to become a solid player, if nothing he got his countryman to mentor him, everything is under control.

His biggest problem from the little we’ve seen of him so far is he doesn’t think ahead, his anticipation isn’t there. Obviously physically he has a lot of work to do but that’s natural for a lot of players so that’s not something to worry about. Some players are able to handle themselves physically at that age but the majority aren’t.
But, I think his reading of the game should be better than what it currently is, that’s my main concern with him. But look, it’s been difficult circumstances we’ve seen him in so far, so it’s not fair to write him off yet. It’s the start of his career so in the environment he’s now in, he’s only going to get better.

oh have a day off you daft sods.

He's a kid playing in a team of kids against a premier league team.

ffs.

   

I said not based on the Villa game but we paid money for him and he's played in the dutch league so yep hold him to higher standard then the likes of Remi Savage,who i think is a better player at the moment and Billy Koumetico in the u-18's.If we can't talk about players cos they're young than lock all the F***ing threads related to that and we can talk sh*te about Sakho instead.

Seeing CB's generally start really progressing between 26-28 i think i will give him 8-10 more years to judge him, he's still growing into his body; and figure our scouts figured his ability with that in mind.

Oh get it now let's wait for 8-10 yrs before we work out if he is good enough 👍 Think I might give this gig a go sounds cool

Just look at how old Virgil was before he was acknowledged as a top defender its a very difficult position to master

   

I said not based on the Villa game but we paid money for him and he's played in the dutch league so yep hold him to higher standard then the likes of Remi Savage,who i think is a better player at the moment and Billy Koumetico in the u-18's.If we can't talk about players cos they're young than lock all the F***ing threads related to that and we can talk sh*te about Sakho instead.

18, been at the club 6 months, and you think you can "judge" him.   

Like I said, have a day off you daft sod.

He's not long turned pro, and is not even finished growing.

This is the time to look at the foundations that are there, then build on them and improve area's that need working on.

You can talk about any player you want, just as I can piss myself laughing at the utter stupidity of someone trying to "judge" a lad who has barely had time to understand our systems, let alone anything else.

F**k me, much older players than this lad were given loads of time to understand our systems, and what was required of them, including Robertson and Fabinho, and you want to start picking apart a young lad, away from his home, who has only been here 6 months and hasn't even bedded in yet.

The mind F***ing boggles.

Not F***ing judging, F***ing using an internet forum,Seen your previous form on here mate so i'm out of this.

Not F***ing judging, F***ing using an internet forum,Seen your previous form on here mate so i'm out of this.

Got it.
You can have an opinion, but I can't 

Every kid of 18 is going to have weaknesses.
Picking them out is not edgy, it's lazy.

You look at his attributes, the foundations he has to build on, how he progresses through the levels, not some half arsed sh*t about being "unsure" or whatever when he's been here 6 months.

Six F***ing months.
I remember reading on here, when Roberston was being "Klopp'd" what a waste of money it had been, then the same people whinging about why Fabinho wasn't straight into the 1st team.
6 months isn't even enough time for him to learn our systems.

The kid will have weaknesses.
So what.
That's what coaching is for.
He's been bought for the future; it's that simple.

Good solid performance against Shrewsbury.  A massive improvement from his first few performance the kid is on the right track.  The way he winning headers after headers reminded me of another Dutch player!

Good solid performance against Shrewsbury.  A massive improvement from his first few performance the kid is on the right track.  The way he winning headers after headers reminded me of another Dutch player!

Are we allowed to judge him on his improvement, don't want to incur the wrath of SWAB! ;-)

In all seriousness he is showing good signs of progress.

He has some very good CB's to learn from and he is a baby in terms of age for that position don't think we will see him in contention for a while yet .

It probably helps him that the pitches have been shrunk and he only has to defend the 16 yard box. 

He is confirmed as being loaned to Preston. Work hard Sepp.

I’m actually really intrigued how he gets on, I was very excited when we got him but unfortunately we haven’t seen much, even in the cups.

Great move for the boy. Best of luck to him

It seems he's been deployed mostly as a right back for Preston. He's never been the quickest, so it's a bit of a strange one...
I don't think he will have a future with us in that position, but it can be good for his overall development.

It seems he's been deployed mostly as a right back for Preston. He's never been the quickest, so it's a bit of a strange one...
I don't think he will have a future with us in that position, but it can be good for his overall development.

Yeah, I wonder what's up with that. He did play the last 4 games as a center-back according to Transfermarkt  (in a 3 men backline) but it's mostly been RWB this season as well as last season.

I guess it can't really do him any bad in terms of becoming better with the ball at his feet as well as passing the ball but I also guess there is some things beyond my understanding that are going on in terms of our staff's vision for him

Yeah, I wonder what's up with that. He did play the last 4 games as a center-back according to Transfermarkt  (in a 3 men backline) but it's mostly been RWB this season as well as last season.

I guess it can't really do him any bad in terms of becoming better with the ball at his feet as well as passing the ball but I also guess there is some things beyond my understanding that are going on in terms of our staff's vision for him

Could be as simple as he isn't bulky enough to be a CB (YET), especially in a physical league like the championship.
He has the ability to play the games but maybe the coaches see it as a weakness that he hasn't fully physically developed yet. Similar to Joe Gomez' development

Could be as simple as he isn't bulky enough to be a CB (YET), especially in a physical league like the championship.
He has the ability to play the games but maybe the coaches see it as a weakness that he hasn't fully physically developed yet. Similar to Joe Gomez' development

Could be, but that's usually something you'd do with the ressies. It's a little bit strange to take a player on loan, and then play him out of position...

Anybody watches the Championship and could give us an update on this kid? If I remember correctly I liked his performance when he played against us in the League Cup back in October.

Anybody watches the Championship and could give us an update on this kid? If I remember correctly I liked his performance when he played against us in the League Cup back in October.

Reports are he has done well and is a bit of a fan favourite.
I always thought he was a bit slow tbh. Especially with our high line.

Not sure he'll become part of our set up in the long run but he has done well, so we at least will get a tidy profit on him.

I wish we saw more of him during preseason, but I thought he did well for the little cameo he had and overall he's done well with the loan opportunities he was given since joining us. I think he has the potential to be part of the squad in the future. What I like about him is that when I see him playing I feel like he has lots of qualities for a CB. Good passes, decent speed, physical, reads the game defensively pretty well, etc. Unfortunately for him our injury crisis is keeping him at the club, but he's also not getting minutes.

I hope Gomez and Matip both make it back soon so we can send him on loan because, right now, other than training with the likes of VVD, Matip and Gomez, he's not really getting valuable minutes of play. I'd love to see him loaned out to a PL side or if minutes can't be guaranteed this way then to another Championship side.

Gone on loan to FC Schalke 04 for the season after signing new contract.

Gone on loan to FC Schalke 04 for the season after signing new contract.

Step up from Preston - after this he will either show he is good enough or Schalke will pay a decent fee for him

Pretty brutal looking injury tonight against Augsburg. Hopefully its not too bad. It's a shame because he was having a pretty good loan so far since joining them (based on the videos I've watched of his minutes in those games.)

Get well soon Sepp.

Pretty brutal looking injury tonight against Augsburg. Hopefully its not too bad. It's a shame because he was having a pretty good loan so far since joining them (based on the videos I've watched of his minutes in those games.)

Get well soon Sepp.

Just saw it. Wish I hadn't... It looks really bad.
Hopefully, he'll make a full (and speedy) recovery.

As expected, no good news for the young lad. Out at least until the end of the year with serious ligament damage. 

Get well soon Sepp.

He is ruled out for the rest of this year having had surgery on his ankle. Expected to make a comeback after the WC. Hopefully whoever is the coach by then at Schalke gives him a chance because he was doing well before the injury. I think Van den Berg is one of our brightest young talents.

He is ruled out for the rest of this year having had surgery on his ankle. Expected to make a comeback after the WC. Hopefully whoever is the coach by then at Schalke gives him a chance because he was doing well before the injury. I think Van den Berg is one of our brightest young talents.

players even getting injured at other clubs. l o l

Sepp van den Berg continues to play in the Bundesliga after leaving FC Schalke 04 on loan and is moving to 1. FSV Mainz 05. In addition, "possibilities for longer cooperation" were defined.

https://www.transfermarkt.de/fix-van-den-berg-zieht-weiter-zu-mainz-05-ndash-nachste-leihe-vom-fc-liverpool/view/news/424850

Did not know that, but Mainz apparently have an option to buy at the end of the loan (not sure if there is conditions attacked to that clause). Apparently, he's been very good for them (unfortunately for them, they suck and will still be relegated).

I wouldn't mind having another Quansah in the team in VDG come this time next year.

"""Liverpool loanee Sepp van den Berg has long since developed into a leading player in the three-man chain of FSV Mainz 05, which is threatened with relegation: apart from a yellow card suspension on matchday 12, the 22-year-old Dutchman played all games in the current season and was only not counted twice in the initial phase to the starting eleven for Rheinhessen. According to information from “Kicker”, the Bundesliga club has a right of first refusal on the 1.92 meter tall defensive giant - but the possible financing is shaky.

“He is a leader and the boss in the middle. He's getting better and better," Mainz coach Bo Henriksen recently praised his protégé, who was nominated for the team of the match day by TM users for his performance last week and in the 2-1 defeat was one of the best players in the FSV jersey against league leaders Leverkusen. Whether the Zwolle homegrown player, whose contract at Anfield runs until 2026, could have a future in Mainz beyond the summer will largely depend on the sporting performance of the Bundesliga second-to-last team and the corresponding financial possibilities."""

https://www.transfermarkt.de/-kicker-quot-mainz-besitzt-vorkaufsrecht-fur-van-den-berg-finanzierung-wackelt/view/news/434316

https://twitter.com/keepachris/status/1776355892838953356

Now 27 games after he featured the whole game in Mainz's 4-0 win against Darmstadt. Very impressive season, keeps this up and he could prove to be a decent option for us next season.