Virgil van Dijk Commits Future To Liverpool With New Contract Extension

‎Virgil van Dijk has joined Mohamed Salah in extending his contract with Liverpool for an additional two years, keeping him at the club until 2027.

‎The captain, who could have departed Anfield on a free transfer this summer, expressed that it was “always Liverpool” for him and confirmed he had no reservations about his future at the club.

‎Liverpool were also keen to extend his seven-year stay on Merseyside and Van Dijk said it was an “amazing” feeling to commit to the club.

‎“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.

‎“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 was 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.”

‎When Virgil van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton in 2018, he arrived for a then-world-record fee of £75 million for a center-back.

‎Although his contract was entering its final months, there was a strong expectation that negotiations would ultimately result in him re-signing with the club.

‎Head coach Arne Slot was keen to keep his compatriot and sporting director Richard Hughes led talks with Van Dijk and his agent, Neil Fewings.

‎The center-back’s new contract will expire just days before his 36th birthday, but Liverpool is confident that he remains one of the world’s top players.

‎By retaining another key player, like they did with Salah, the club has demonstrated its commitment to ambition.

‎Van Dijk has been at the heart of Liverpool’s title push this season, making up one-half of a formidable center-back partnership with Ibrahima Konate.

‎He has been ever-present in the Premier League this season and has scored 27 goals in 314 games for Liverpool.

‎But despite stating his desire to stay at the club, it took until April for Van Dijk to provide a positive update on contract talks, revealing progress over an extension after Liverpool’s 3-2 loss at Fulham.

‎The announcement comes as a significant boost for the Reds as they aim to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League beyond this season.

‎It follows the resolution of Mohamed Salah’s contract standoff, during which the Egyptian star opted to reject interest from Saudi Arabia to continue his career on Merseyside.

‎However, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future remains in serious doubt, with the right-back closing in on a move to join Real Madrid for free when his own contract runs out at the end of June.

‎Van Dijk has written himself into Liverpool and Premier League legend since his Anfield arrival in January 2018 from Southampton, proving his £75m price tag as something of a bargain over the last seven years.

‎The center-back was instrumental in helping Liverpool end their 30-year wait for a Premier League title in 2020.

‎His impressive trophy cabinet also includes a Champions League title, an FA Cup, a Club World Cup, and two Carabao Cups.

‎He replaced Jordan Henderson as captain in 2023 and led them to the Carabao Cup in his debut season with the armband.

‎They could win the Premier League as soon as Sunday.