When Liverpool secured the signing of Sepp van den Berg in 2019, they appeared to have acquired one of Europe’s most promising defensive talents. The Dutchman, then just 17, joined PEC Zwolle after a single season in the Eredivisie.
Van den Berg, who cost $1.6m (£1.3m/€1.5m), initially thought the interest from Anfield was a joke, saying: “I was really happy and, to be honest, I was a little bit scared at first because such a big club had interest in me. I couldn’t believe it.”
However, Jürgen Klopp and the Liverpool scouting department saw potential in him, and he made his debut a few months later in the Carabao Cup. Van den Berg also played in a memorable 5-5 draw with Arsenal and featured in the FA Cup, but his opportunities have been limited since then.
It has been four years since the 22-year-old’s last competitive appearance for Liverpool. He had a successful loan spell with Preston North End in the Championship in 2021/22, but returned to Merseyside hoping for more chances. He joined the first-team squad for pre-season but was subsequently loaned out to Schalke and then Mainz in Germany.
This season, he has been a regular for Mainz, showcasing his aerial ability by winning the second-most aerial duels in the Bundesliga. Despite having three years left on his Liverpool contract, it seems likely that he will leave the club this summer.
Liverpool is expected to strengthen its defense, with Joël Matip leaving on a free transfer and Jarell Quansah emerging as a promising talent. Van den Berg acknowledges that if he returns to Liverpool and doesn’t see much playing time, he may have to consider leaving.
He has expressed a preference for staying in Germany or moving to another foreign league rather than returning to the Netherlands. For now, his focus is on helping Mainz avoid relegation from the Bundesliga.
Van den Berg scored a crucial goal in a recent win over Augsburg, but Mainz is currently in a precarious position, just three points above the relegation zone.
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