Sepp van den Berg has penned a contract extension with Liverpool before joining Schalke on loan for the 2022/23 season.

The 20-year-old defender goes back out on loan following successful spells in the Championship with Preston North End in the previous two campaigns.

Van den Berg, who represents Netherlands at youth level, has made four first-team appearances for Liverpool.

"We are very happy that Sepp has decided to join us despite interest from other clubs. In Sepp, we have gained a fast, tough and strong central defender who will liven up the competition in the squad, just as we had planned following Malick Thiaw's departure," said sporting director Rouven Schröder.

"We're convinced that he has the potential to fill that current hole and he will compete with that exact same ambition."

Head coach Frank Kramer added: "Sepp is a player who not only defends attentively, but can also get involved in the build-up play. This combination of physicality and technique makes him an interesting player for the centre of our defence. I am very pleased to have him in our team."