Liverpool FC confirmed on April 16, 2025, that captain Virgil van Dijk, 33, signed a two-year contract extension, keeping the Dutch defender at Anfield until June 2027, per the club’s website.
The deal ends months of speculation about Van Dijk’s future, as his previous contract, signed in 2021, was set to expire in July 2025. “I’m here to lead this team to more success,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports, citing Liverpool’s Premier League lead and Champions League semi-final berth as motivators.
Van Dijk, who joined from Southampton for £75 million in 2018, has made 312 appearances, scoring 27 goals, and lifted seven trophies, including the 2019 Champions League, per Transfermarkt. His 2024-25 season stats—90% pass accuracy, 65% duels won—cement his elite status, per Opta.
Manager Arne Slot praised his “world-class” leadership, with Liverpool conceding only 12 goals in 22 league games, per BBC Sport. The extension, valued at £12 million annually, aligns with new deals for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, securing Liverpool’s core, per The Athletic. Fans celebrated outside Anfield, with 2,000 gathering, per local reports.