31.07.2014 16:31 h

Dutch defender De Vrij joins Lazio

Stefan de Vrij
Stefan de Vrij

Netherlands defender Stefan de Vrij has left Feyenoord for Lazio, the Italian Serie A club announced on Thursday.

"I am happy to be at this club, all the more so as Lazio had been following me for a long time. They wanted me before the World Cup and it is the best choice for me," said de Vrij at a press conference.

The 22-year-old, who starred in the Netherlands' run to finish third at the World Cup, arrived in the Italian capital on Monday night and passed a medical on Tuesday.

Reports in the Italian media say that Lazio will pay Feyenoord a transfer fee of 8.5 million euros (£6.74m, $11.4m).

De Vrij had also been linked with Manchester United, where his former national team boss Louis van Gaal recently took charge.

He has agreed a four-year deal worth a reported annual salary of 1.3 million euros.