Virgil van Dijk today signed a new contract with Liverpool FC to extend his time with the club after the 2024-25 season.
The captain put the pen on paper over the deal to ensure that his association with the Reds will continue in the upcoming campaigns, almost seven and a half years after he initially arrived in Anfield.
The news follows Van Mohamed Salah and last week new conditions also correspond to the club.
“I am very happy, very proud,” Van Dijk said. “There are clearly so many emotions that now go through my mind, talk about it now.
“It's a proud feeling, it's a feeling of joy. It's just incredible. The journey I have had so far in my career, to be able to extend it in this club for another two years is great and I am so happy.”
He added: “It was always Liverpool. That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan and it was always Liverpool.
“There was no doubt in my head that this is the place to be for me and my family. I am one of Liverpool. Someone recently called an adopted scouser – I am really proud to hear these things, it gives me a great feeling.”
Sports director Richard Hughes has held conversations everywhere with Van Dijk and his agent, Neil Fewings, and there has been faith to both parties that a deal would be closed.
It is understood that the Van Dijk deal is on comparable conditions as his previous contract, which is around £ 350,000 a week or slightly less than £ 40 million over the two years. It is an important investment by the club, but also a conviction that, given the data and his versions, they will believe that he will stay at the top of his game for more years.
Liverpool believes that they can continue to give players such as Van Dijk, Salah and others the platform to continue to reach their ambitions that win big trophies. They also believe that by binding club captain Van Dijk and Salah that they show the ambition of the club to stay at the top of the game.
Liverpool signed Van Dijk from Southampton in 2018 for a world record £ 75 million for a defender. He has won one Premier League title, a Champions League, two Carabao Cups and a FA Cup. With another competition title, of course.
The Dutchman said earlier this week: “I love the club, that is pretty clear. I think you can see that in the way I talk about the club, the way I work for the club in terms of what I do on the field on and next to the field, and that will always be the same.
“I think it is the whole combination. For many reasons I came to the club in 2017. Reasons such as how much it means for all scousers, for all fans in the whole world to be connected to Liverpool.
“Being successful with Liverpool, the culture of the club, everything that embodies Liverpool … that's just a part of me. That's why I am always proud when I wear that shirt, go outside and try to be the best version of myself in terms of the football player I am.”
Van Dijk was also happy earlier this week that Salah signed his deal. “I am clearly very happy for the club, and we are all connected to the club,” he said. “You can't put it in words how consistent he is.
“Of course (in terms of) his figures, but the work percentage that he has introduced to the club for the past eight years is incredible and he can show it for a few years.”
His defensive competence has been of fundamental importance to help the Reds win seven major awards at the time, with the number 4 that upheld 314 performances and 27 goals so far.
The Trophy Haul of Nederlands International consists of the Premier League, Champions League, Fifa Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two competition cups.
On an individual level, Van Dijk was named PFA Player 'Player of the Year in 2019 and four separate occasions were selected at the Premier League Team of the Year of the organization.
The 33-year-old also became second in the Ballon d'Or voice of 2019, and missed Lionel Messi closely, but underlined his status as a modern grand.
In the summer of 2023, Van Dijk permanently entered the Liverpool bracelet and will now help to continue the indictment for awards that have committed his future to the Reds.