Sepp van den Berg is one of the smartest bits of defensive business Brentford have done in recent years. He arrived from Liverpool in the summer of 2024 as a club record signing, and in his first full season he went straight into the starting eleven and made himself a regular. At 24 years old in 2026, he is still young, still improving, and already one of the better ball playing centre-backs in the Premier League.

In this piece we go through everything fans are searching for about Sepp van den Berg in 2026. His net worth, his salary at Brentford, the story of his transfer from Liverpool, his injury record, his younger brother Rav, and a long list of the questions people keep typing into Google and asking AI chatbots about him. Icon Polls has pulled all the numbers and the background into one simple read.

Profile Snapshot

Who Is Sepp van den Berg?

Sepp van den Berg is a Dutch professional footballer born on 20 December 2001 in Zwolle, the Netherlands. He plays mainly as a centre-back, though he can also fill in at right-back, and he is currently at Premier League club Brentford. He is 24 years old in 2026 and has already played in the Eredivisie, the Bundesliga, the Championship, and the Premier League, which is a lot of miles on the clock for a player his age.

His career story is unusual. He came through the youth system at PEC Zwolle in the Netherlands, made his senior debut there at 16, then moved to Liverpool at 17 in the summer of 2019. Liverpool never quite found a regular path for him to break into their first team, so he spent a couple of seasons on loan at Preston North End, then at Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga, then at Mainz 05. Brentford finally got his signature in August 2024, and that is where his career has really started to click.

He is tall, two footed, and very comfortable with the ball at his feet. Thomas Frank, the Brentford manager at the time of his signing, praised how well he reads the game and how calm he is under pressure. In the 2025 to 2026 season he has built on that, becoming one of the first names on the Brentford team sheet under Keith Andrews.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Van den Berg grew up in Zwolle, in the east of the Netherlands, and joined the PEC Zwolle academy in 2012 at the age of 10. He was clearly ahead of the curve because he was given his first team debut on 11 March 2018, coming on as a half-time substitute in a 2 to 0 home defeat to Groningen. That made him 16 years and 81 days old at the time, one of the youngest Eredivisie debutants in Zwolle's history.

Liverpool scouts spotted him early. In June 2019, at just 17, he moved to Anfield for a confirmed fee of 1.3 million pounds, with add ons that could take the total up to 4.4 million pounds. It was a big move for a teenager, and he has spoken since about how much he learned at Liverpool, even though the first team minutes were hard to come by. He did appear in a few cup games, including that famous 5 to 5 EFL Cup draw with Arsenal in October 2019 that Liverpool won on penalties.

To get regular senior football, he went out on loan. First to Preston North End in the Championship in February 2021, where he ended up making 66 appearances over two stints. Then to Schalke 04 in Germany for the 2022 to 2023 Bundesliga season, which was cut short by an ankle injury. Then to Mainz 05 for the 2023 to 2024 Bundesliga season, where everything finally clicked. He played 35 games in all competitions, scored three goals, and made more than 150 clearances. That season is what convinced Brentford to pay big money for him.

Transfer and Career Moves

Van den Berg has had a lot of moves in a short time. Here is how his career has progressed through the transfer market.

PEC Zwolle to Liverpool (June 2019): A confirmed fee of 1.3 million pounds, rising up to 4.4 million pounds with add ons, on a long term contract at Anfield.

Liverpool to Preston North End (February 2021, loan): A six month loan for regular Championship football, later extended into the 2021 to 2022 season.

Liverpool to Schalke 04 (2022 to 2023 season, loan): A season long Bundesliga loan that ended up being disrupted by an ankle injury after only nine appearances.

Liverpool to Mainz 05 (2023 to 2024 season, loan): A season long loan in which he finally nailed down a first team place in Germany's top flight.

Liverpool to Brentford (August 2024): A reported fee of 20 million pounds plus 5 million in bonuses, on a five year contract. It was a Brentford record signing at the time.

As of 2026, his market value has climbed to somewhere in the region of 18 to 22 million euros on public registers after a strong first full season at Brentford. Icon Polls notes that the real world figure could be higher if a bigger club came in with a concrete offer, because two footed young centre-backs with this much European experience are exactly what top six clubs tend to look for.

Net Worth and Salary in 2026

This is the part most readers came looking for, so let us get right into it. Icon Polls estimates that Sepp van den Berg's net worth in 2026 sits between 8 million and 10 million dollars. That figure takes into account his five years at Liverpool, his loan wages at Preston, Schalke, and Mainz, his current Brentford contract, youth Netherlands international earnings, and his endorsement deals. Remember, he has been a professional since 2018, which gives him more years on a payroll than most 24 year olds.

On the salary side, his move to Brentford was reported as a five year deal with a base salary of around 20,000 pounds per week, rising to around 33,000 pounds per week with performance bonuses and uplift clauses tied to appearances. Over the life of the contract, that totals around 5 to 7 million pounds in guaranteed earnings before any bonuses are added. When he triggers his appearance and clean sheet bonuses, the number gets bigger in a hurry.

Icon Polls expects his salary to go up significantly whenever his next contract renegotiation comes around, especially if he keeps his current level of performance and pushes into senior Netherlands contention. A new deal could put him closer to the top end of the Brentford pay structure, alongside the likes of Mikkel Damsgaard and Jordan Henderson.

Transfer Story: Liverpool to Brentford

The Liverpool to Brentford move in August 2024 is one of the more interesting transfer stories of recent years. Van den Berg had spent five years at Anfield without ever really breaking into the first team, despite being highly rated internally. By the time the summer of 2024 came around, he wanted regular Premier League football and Liverpool were willing to sell, especially as his value had climbed after the Mainz loan.

His younger brother Rav, who plays in the Bundesliga, later gave an interview where he spoke about the decision. Rav said Sepp had asked him for his honest opinion before picking Brentford. Rav did not want to influence the call too much, but it is clear that Thomas Frank's pitch about the project at Brentford was a big reason Sepp chose the Bees. The reported fee of around 25 million pounds, made up of 20 million upfront and 5 million in bonuses, was a club record for Brentford at the time.

Looking back, the move has been a win for both sides. Brentford got a young centre-back who immediately walked into their starting eleven. Van den Berg got the Premier League minutes he had been waiting years for. And Liverpool banked the kind of transfer fee that fully justified the deal they had done for him back in 2019.

Injury History

Van den Berg's injury record is not huge, but he has had a few notable issues. The biggest one so far was an ankle injury during his 2022 to 2023 loan at Schalke 04 that limited him to only nine Bundesliga appearances and forced him back to Liverpool for treatment. That was a frustrating spell because it interrupted a season that was meant to be about proving himself in a top European league.

Since joining Brentford, he has had a couple of smaller knocks. He picked up a minor groin issue around the time of Brentford's EFL Cup quarter-final against Newcastle United, which had him ruled out as a late scratch shortly before kick off. He has also missed some games in late 2025 and early 2026 with a knee issue that kept him out for a handful of matches. Each time, though, he has come back into the starting eleven fairly quickly, which tells you a lot about how much the coaching staff trust him.

Icon Polls expects him to be a regular presence in the Brentford defence for the rest of the 2025 to 2026 season, provided he avoids any new setbacks. With the squad depth Brentford have at centre-back, including Nathan Collins, Kristoffer Ajer, and Ethan Pinnock, there is no reason to rush him back from any knock, which is another reason his long term outlook is positive.

Brother Rav van den Berg

Sepp's younger brother Rav van den Berg is also a professional footballer, and this is one of the most searched aspects of the family. Rav plays as a defender, has come through the same PEC Zwolle youth system, and has since moved on to a top five league. He spent time at Middlesbrough in the English Championship before moving to the Bundesliga, where he now plays for Cologne.

The two brothers are close. Rav has spoken publicly about how much he and Sepp support each other's careers, and how they regularly exchange views on training methods, tactics, and contract decisions. As we mentioned earlier, Rav was part of the decision making process when Sepp was choosing between Brentford and other options in the summer of 2024. With both brothers now playing in big European leagues, they have made the van den Berg name one to watch in Dutch football.

There has been ongoing speculation about whether the two brothers could one day play together at a senior national team level for the Netherlands, or perhaps even at club level one day. Nothing is confirmed on that front, but it is the kind of storyline that Dutch football fans keep an eye on.

Playing Style and Role at Brentford

On the pitch, van den Berg is the kind of composed, modern centre-back that top clubs build teams around. He is calm in possession, reads the game well, and is comfortable stepping out of defence to help start attacks. He is not a rash tackler. He prefers to use his body and positioning to guide attackers into less dangerous areas. His aerial ability has become one of his big selling points, and his pass completion rate sits around 88 percent, which is high for a defender.

Keith Andrews has used him mainly as a centre-back this season, often alongside Nathan Collins or Kristoffer Ajer, depending on the match up. He can also play as a right-back if the tactical situation calls for it, which gives Andrews flexibility. His left foot and right foot are both trusted, so he can play on either side of a centre-back pairing, which is a hugely underrated quality in modern football.

International Career

Van den Berg has been a Dutch youth international for years. He racked up 10 caps and 3 goals for the Netherlands U19s, and made his U21 debut on 12 October 2021 in a 5 to 0 win over Wales. He has been part of various Dutch youth setups at different age levels and is widely expected to push for a senior Netherlands call up if he keeps playing at his current level for Brentford.

With the Netherlands already blessed with strong centre-back options including Virgil van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt, Stefan de Vrij, and Nathan Ake, breaking into the senior squad is not easy. But van den Berg is young enough and good enough to keep building a case. Icon Polls thinks a senior debut is a matter of when rather than if, especially with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon and the Dutch manager looking at all his options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sepp van den Berg

1. How old is Sepp van den Berg in 2026?

Sepp van den Berg is 24 years old in 2026. He was born on 20 December 2001 and will turn 25 in December 2026.

2. What is Sepp van den Berg's net worth in 2026?

His net worth is estimated to sit between 8 million and 10 million dollars in 2026.

3. How tall is Sepp van den Berg?

He stands at 1.89 metres, which is about 6 feet 2 inches tall.

4. What club does Sepp van den Berg play for?

He plays for Brentford FC in the Premier League and has been with the club since August 2024.

5. What is Sepp van den Berg's salary at Brentford?

His base wage is reported at around 20,000 pounds per week, with some sources placing the figure closer to 33,000 pounds per week once bonuses and uplift clauses are factored in.

6. Who is Sepp van den Berg's brother?

His younger brother is Rav van den Berg, who plays as a defender for Cologne in the Bundesliga. Rav was previously at PEC Zwolle and Middlesbrough.

7. What position does Sepp van den Berg play?

He plays primarily as a centre-back, but he can also fill in at right-back if the team needs him to.

8. When did Sepp van den Berg join Brentford?

He signed for Brentford on 22 August 2024 from Liverpool for a reported fee of 20 million pounds plus 5 million in bonuses on a five year contract.

9. Did Sepp van den Berg play for Liverpool?

Yes. He was a Liverpool player from June 2019 to August 2024, though he spent much of that time out on loan at Preston North End, Schalke 04, and Mainz 05.

10. What is Sepp van den Berg's transfer value in 2026?

His market value in 2026 is estimated at around 18 to 22 million euros on public registers, with real world transfer value likely higher if a top club came in with a bid.

11. Where was Sepp van den Berg born?

He was born in Zwolle, in the Netherlands, and came through the PEC Zwolle youth academy.

12. What injuries has Sepp van den Berg had?

He had an ankle injury during his Schalke loan in 2022 to 2023 that limited him to nine appearances, a groin knock around the Newcastle EFL Cup tie at Brentford, and a knee issue in late 2025 and early 2026 that kept him out for a handful of games.

13. What is Sepp van den Berg's shirt number?

He wears the number 4 shirt at Brentford.

14. Has Sepp van den Berg played for the senior Netherlands team?

Not yet. He has played at U19 and U21 level for the Netherlands and is expected to push for a senior call up with continued strong performances.

15. Who is Sepp van den Berg's agent?

He is represented by Key Sports Management.

16. What Bundesliga clubs has Sepp van den Berg played for?

He has played for Schalke 04 in the 2022 to 2023 season and Mainz 05 in the 2023 to 2024 season, both on loan from Liverpool.

17. What was Sepp van den Berg's first professional club?

PEC Zwolle, where he came through the youth system and made his senior Eredivisie debut at 16 in March 2018.

18. When does Sepp van den Berg's Brentford contract expire?

His current deal runs until 30 June 2029, following the five year contract he signed when he joined in August 2024.

19. Does Sepp van den Berg play with his left or right foot?

He is naturally right footed but is known for being very comfortable with both feet, which is one of his strengths as a modern centre-back.

20. How many Premier League appearances has Sepp van den Berg made in 2025 to 2026?

He has made 26 Premier League appearances in the 2025 to 2026 season so far, which confirms his first choice status in the Brentford back line.

21. Did Sepp van den Berg win any trophies at Liverpool?

He was on the bench for Liverpool's 2019 FIFA Club World Cup final win over Flamengo in Qatar, though he did not get on the pitch. He did not make enough appearances during Liverpool's Premier League title win in 2019 to 2020 to earn a winner's medal.

22. What was Sepp van den Berg's first team debut?

He made his senior debut for PEC Zwolle on 11 March 2018 as a 45th minute substitute in a 2 to 0 home defeat to Groningen.

Sepp van den Berg is one of those quiet, understated signings that tells you a lot about how well Brentford are being run right now. He was stuck behind world class defenders at Liverpool and never quite got his chance. Brentford saw the gap, paid a club record fee, and gave him the platform he needed. Two seasons later, he looks like one of the most important players in their defence and one of the most promising young centre-backs in the Premier League.

The numbers in this piece, from a net worth estimated between 8 million and 10 million dollars to a market value sitting around 18 to 22 million euros in 2026, only tell part of the story. The rest is about the football. A two footed centre-back with European experience at 24 is a very valuable commodity. If he keeps improving at his current rate, the next chapter in his career could be even bigger than anything he has done so far. For Brentford fans, that is something to be excited about. For Dutch football fans, he is a name to remember as the 2026 World Cup and beyond come into view.