Sepp van den Berg was highly rated by Bayer 04 Leverkusen. However, the Dutch defender has decided against a return to the Bundesliga and will remain in the Premier League
In their search for a replacement for Odilon Kossounou, who is keen to move on, double winners Leverkusen have recently been looking closely at Sepp van den Berg. According to the Dutch daily De Telegraaf, Bayer 04 had already reached an agreement with Liverpool FC, where the Dutchman was under contract, for a transfer fee of 23 million euros plus bonuses.
However, van den Berg has decided against a return to the Bundesliga, where he has played a total of 42 games for Schalke 04 (2022/23) and Mainz 05 (2023/24 on loan). Brentford FC announced on Thursday evening that van den Berg will play for the Londoners with immediate effect. He has signed a contract with the Bees until 2029.
“Sepp is a central defender of a good standard and he has the potential to develop even further,” Brentford head coach Thomas Frank was quoted as saying in the club’s announcement. “He fits in with our philosophy and the way we want to play: He is quick, reads the game well and is calm on the ball in build-up and in decisive defensive actions. “
Van den Berg had made it onto the list of several Bundesliga clubs after his last season on loan at Mainz 05 In addition to Mainz 05, those responsible at Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg and most recently Leverkusen were also keen to sign the 1.92-metre defender, who has been under contract at Liverpool FC since 2019 but has not played a single point game for the Reds’ professional team. However, van den Berg had initially wanted to concentrate on the summer preparations under Klopp’s successor Arne Slot and has now decided to make a permanent switch within England after several loan spells.
Van den Berg’s decision has consequences for Leverkusen. Should Kossounou answer the call of the Premier League – an offer of around 45 million euros and interest from Crystal Palace are being discussed – a gap would open up in the defense that would have to be filled by the end of August at best.
