In brief
Sepp van den Berg, one of the most talented young defenders in football, joined Liverpool at the age of 17.
In order to get more playing time, he departed the team in 2024 to join Brentford.
Now, Van den Berg has admitted that he longs to return to Anfield.
Calling oneself a Liverpool player would be a dream come true for most people. A very small percentage of players will ever have the chance to play for not just one of the greatest clubs in England, but the entire world. That entails the opportunity to compete for the greatest trophies available and play every week in one of Europe’s most prestigious venues.
It would take a very courageous person to leave, to put it that way. Additionally, their justifications would need to be unquestionable, like getting greater playing time. For teenage Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg, that is precisely the situation. Although he showed promise, the 23-year-old only made four appearances for the senior team after joining Anfield as a young player in 2019.
The centre defender made the decision to put his money on himself in the summer of 2024 and moved to Brentford, where he has been given frequent starts and shown his abilities. Van den Berg has acknowledged that he considers rejoining his old team, nevertheless, and outlined the steps necessary to do so.
Van Den Berg Reveals Dream of Anfield Return
The defender explained how much he would like to return to his former club
With defenders like Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, two of the greatest in the world, ahead of him, Van den Berg realised after loan stints with Preston, Schalke, and Mainz that he was unlikely to make it into the Liverpool first team. The Dutchman made it obvious to his new boss that he intended to try something different, even though Arne Slot’s arrival offered a possibility for possible change.
According to the Metro, the 23-year-old told Voetbal Primeur, “I already told the club that I wanted to leave and play minutes before the preseason started.”
Liverpool told me that I had performed so well after the preparation that they wanted me to stay. However, I did not personally witness that occurring.
“I made the decision to depart on my own. Now that I play in the Premier League every week, I’m content.
The former Red acknowledged that he was pleased with his decision, but he also said that he had considered what it might be like to work for his old company again, even going so far as to declare that he had dreams of donning the iconic red shirt:
“I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I claimed I didn’t hope to visit Liverpool again in the future. I’m still thinking about that. But for the time being, playing a lot and taking a different route was beneficial for my career. I’m doing it right now, and it helps me grow as much as I can.”
Van Den Berg’s Brentford Career So Far
The Dutchman has settled in well at his new club
There were certainly high hopes for Van den Berg when he moved to the Gtech Community Stadium following what was generally considered to be an amazing 2023–24 season while on loan at Mainz.
Even though the Bees already have several well-known players at the back, the newcomer has managed to establish himself, starting 77% of his 21 Premier League games for his new team. This season, he has also played in the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.
Among his teammates, Van den Berg is well regarded for his performances. The youthful defender ranks third in clearances, fifth in tackles, and second in blocks per game in aerial duels won.
Van den Berg’s Premier League statistics for 2024–2025 (per 90)
Blocks
1.3
Won in Aerial Duels
3.1
Clearances
4.2
Attacks
1.3
Interceptions
0.7
Obtain Completion
84.7%
