Virgil van Dijk, born on 8 July 1991 in the Netherlands, is a renowned defender currently playing as a central defender for Liverpool. Standing at 6ft 3in (1.93m) and weighing 14st 6lb (92kg), van Dijk is an imposing figure on the pitch. Representing the Netherlands, nationally, this formidable player can often be seen wearing the number 4 jersey.
Van Dijk’s professional career began in July 2010 when he joined FC Groningen in the Eredivisie in the Netherlands. In his debut season, he made two first team appearances in league matches. Over the next two seasons, his performances solidified as he made 23 and 32 appearances, respectively, scoring a total of five goals during these tenure.
In July 2013, van Dijk embarked on a new journey, transferring to Celtic in the Premiership in Scotland for a sum of approximately £2.6m. At Celtic, he made his mark with 36 first-team appearances and five goals in the 2013-2014 season. This pattern of strong performances continued in the 2014-2015 season, with van Dijk making 35 appearances and netting four goals. He then made a further five appearances in the 2015-2016 season before moving on.
In September 2015, van Dijk transferred from Celtic to Southampton in the Championship in England for around £12m. He made his mark in the team, making 34 first-team appearances and scoring three goals in his first season. Due to his impressive performances, he grabbed the attention of Premier League giants, Liverpool.
In January 2018, he transferred from Southampton to Liverpool for an impressive sum of nearly £75m. Since his arrival at Liverpool, van Dijk has remained an integral part of the team, making a significant number of first-team appearances each season and demonstrating a consistent ability to score crucial goals.
Alongside his club career, van Dijk has also made significant contributions to the Netherlands' national team during the World Cup Qualifiers Europe 2024 - 2026, scoring two goals in eight starts. He then went on to represent Liverpool in the FA Community Shield 2025 - 2026 as well as the Champions League 2025 - 2026, with two goals in six starts.
