Dutch pundits tend to be very harsh with their own players — just ask Virgil van Dijk — but former Netherlands playmaker Wesley Sneijder has resoundingly backed Jeremie Frimpong to be a success at Liverpool.
Frimpong has moved to Anfield for a fee of around $39 million (£30 million) after his release clause was triggered. And the 24-year-old is delighted to have made the switch, where he will link up with the likes of Van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Arne Slot.
"He’ll improve Liverpool a lot with his power and pace," Sneijder said. "He’s improved a lot over the last couple of years. I really like him as a player.
"You can compare him to Denzel Dumfries in some ways. He’s more offensive than Dumfries, but I think he’ll prove very important for Liverpool in the future. He looks like a very good signing to me."
When he signed on the dotted line at Liverpool, Frimpong, who counts as a homegrown player because he grew up in Manchester, despite being born in Amsterdam, made clear just how happy he was.
"You always want to play for the top teams as a footballer, as a kid," he said. "Of course when I was younger and Liverpool first came, that was a no-brainer as well.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - MAY 30: Jeremie Frimpong new signing of Liverpool at AXA Training Centre on May 30, 2025 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Jeremie Frimpong has signed for Liverpool (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"But due to transportation and all these sorts of things, I had to go a different way. And look at me now. So, it has worked really well.
"I think this is the best stadium I played in when I was with Leverkusen: the atmosphere, the fans, the team as well. The whole package is great.
"I don't need to say too much about the quality [of Liverpool]. They won the league. For me, playing against Liverpool when I was in Leverkusen, really difficult. Really, really difficult."
Sneijder was asked about whether he was close to joining a Premier League side in his career. He confirmed that a move to Liverpool nearly happened. Eventually, though, he signed for Galatasaray.
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"There were some talks with Manchester United but, in truth, I was close to joining Liverpool in 2013 before I joined Galatasaray," Sneijder, speaking to BetMGM, added. "It was a hard decision but, at that moment, Liverpool weren’t quite at the level they are now.
"Galatasaray was a better move for me at the time. Of course I would have loved to have played in England but it didn’t really work out — and that’s not a bad thing.
"I played for some amazing teams during my career. It would have been amazing to play for them and in the Premier League but I don’t regret it."
Liverpool.com says: Frimpong is a very talented player and Arne Slot will be able to mold him however he thinks best. The indications are that he will be playing further forward at times, as well as at right-back, making him a versatile addition.