Liverpool have secured a Virgil van Dijk contract extension. Van Dijk has committed his long-term future to the Merseyside club, signing until the summer of 2025.
Virgil van Dijk Extends Contract With Liverpool
𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗩𝗜𝗥𝗚 ✊@VirgilvDijk has today signed a new long-term contract with the Reds 🙌
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 13, 2021
Virgil van Dijk Contract: Liverpool’s Leader and Legend
Van Dijk signed for Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018 and has since been a stalwart for Jürgen Klopp. In his time so far, Van Dijk has led the side to Champions League glory in 2019, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the final. He was also fundamental in Liverpool’s Premier League title win in 2020; the club’s first. The news that Van Dijk extends his contract with Liverpool until 2025 will go down well with supporters.
Last season, an injury to Van Dijk in October 2020’s Merseyside derby kept him out for the rest of the campaign. Without Van Dijk, defensively Liverpool were lost. Now, as he prepares himself for his comeback season, the expectation on him to deliver is high. His centre-back partner, Joe Gomez, is also returning from injury and will be ready for the return of the season. Both van Dijk and Gomez are in contention for the game against Norwich City on August 14, 2021.
Liverpool’s Season Expectations
After their first season without a trophy in three years, Liverpool will be looking to get back to winning silverware this season. Having learned from their injury-ridden season, Liverpool signed a defender in Ibrahima Konaté from RB Leipzig for €35 million. It will be interesting to see how much the 22-year-old features this season with Gomez and Van Dijk back in the mix.
Liverpool will be happy that an experienced figure in Van Dijk has committed his future to the club. His compatriot, Georginio Wijnaldum, departed the club for Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer. The transfer was long-anticipated, yet still leaves the dressing room without one of their main players. Van Dijk renewing, therefore, gives the club a boost; the Dutch captain will be hoping for an injury-free season this time around.
Proud to Extend Anfield Stay
Van Dijk told Liverpoolfc.com: “Amazing. It is something to be very proud of, that I am very proud of, that my wife and my kids are very proud of and obviously my agency.
“All the hard work we’ve put in so far continues and I am looking forward to what the future brings together with Liverpool. I’m delighted, very happy and proud.”
“Since day one when I joined the club, I felt so much appreciation from the fans and from my teammates and the staff, that I could be a very important member of this football club,” he added.
“It has been going well; unfortunately last season for me personally has been a season to forget, to learn from and take with me, but I have enjoyed my time here and will keep enjoying it in the next couple of years altogether with all of you.”
“I feel good. Obviously [they were] friendlies, you get your match fitness up, get into repetitions of doing things again and again.
“I feel like I am ready for the weekend, so we’ll see what the manager decides. It is going to be a totally different atmosphere and mindset for me personally as well. It is something we fight for, for the points, and hopefully we can get a positive result out of it.”
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
