Virgil van Dijk has today signed a new contract with Liverpool FC to extend his time with the club beyond the 2024-25 season.
The captain put pen to paper on the deal to ensure his association with the Reds will continue into the forthcoming campaigns, almost seven-and-a-half years after he initially arrived at Anfield.
The news follows on from Mohamed Salah also agreeing fresh terms with the club last week.
“I’m very happy, very proud,” Van Dijk said. “There are so many emotions obviously that go through my head right now speaking about it.
“It’s a proud feeling, it’s a feeling of joy. It’s just incredible. The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing and I’m 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 wasn’t any doubt in my head that this is the place to be for me and my family. I’m one of Liverpool. Someone called me the other day an adopted Scouser – I’m really proud to hear these things, it gives me a great feeling.”
Sporting director Richard Hughes has been leading discussions throughout with Van Dijk and his agent, Neil Fewings, and there has been confidence on both sides that a deal would get done.
It is understood that Van Dijk's deal is on similar terms to his previous contract, which is around £350,000-a-week or just less than £40m over the course of the two years. It's a significant investment by the club but also a belief that given the data and his performances, they believe he will stay at the top of his game for more years to come.
Liverpool believe that they can continue to give players like Van Dijk, Salah and others the platform to continue to achieve their ambitions which is winning major trophies. They also believe that by tying down club captain Van Dijk and Salah that they are showing the club's ambition to remain at the very top of the game.
Liverpool signed Van Dijk from Southampton in 2018 for a world-record £75m fee for a defender. He has won one Premier League title, a Champions League, two Carabao Cups and an FA Cup. With another league title to come, of course.
The Dutchman said earlier this week: “I love the club, that's pretty obvious. I think you can see that in the way I speak about the club, the way I work for the club in terms of what I do on the pitch on and off the pitch, and that will always be the same.
“I think it's the whole combination. I joined the club in 2017 for many reasons. Reasons like how much it means to all the Scousers, to all the fans around the whole world to be connected to Liverpool.
“Being successful with Liverpool, the culture of the club, everything that embodies Liverpool … that is just part of me. That's why I'm always proud when I wear that shirt, go out there and try to be the best version of myself in terms of the football player that I am.”
Van Dijk was also happy earlier this week that Salah has signed his deal. “I’m obviously very happy for the club, and all of us connected to the club,” he said. "You can't put it in words how consistent he is.
“Obviously (in terms of) his numbers, but the work rate he's put in over those last eight years at the club is incredible and he can still show it for another few years.”
His defensive prowess has been fundamental in helping the Reds win seven major honours during that time, with the No.4 clocking up 314 appearances and 27 goals to date.
The Netherlands international’s trophy haul consists of the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups.
On an individual level, Van Dijk was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2019 and has been selected in the organisation’s Premier League Team of the Year on four separate occasions.
The 33-year-old also came second in the 2019 Ballon d’Or vote, narrowly missing out to Lionel Messi but underlining his status as a modern-day great.
Van Dijk assumed Liverpool’s captain’s armband on a permanent basis in the summer of 2023 and will now help continue the charge for honours having committed his future to the Reds.