Virgil van Dijk, born on 8 July 1991 in the Netherlands, is a resolute defender who chiefly operates as a central defender for Liverpool. A towering figure on the pitch, van Dijk stands at an imposing 6ft 3in (1.93m) and has a robust physicality tipping the scales at 14st 6lb (92kg). The Dutchman represents his country at an international level and dons the number 4 jersey for his club.
His footballing journey commenced in earnest at FC Groningen in the Eredivisie in 2010. During his debut season, he only made two league appearances but swiftly established himself as a fixture in the first team in the subsequent seasons. In the 2011 - 2012 season, van Dijk made 23 appearances and found the back of the net three times. He followed it up with a solid performance in the 2012 - 2013 season, playing 32 matches and scoring on two occasions.
In July 2013, van Dijk made the leap from Netherlands to Scotland, joining Celtic in the Premiership for a modest fee of around £2.6m. He began to etch his name into the annals of the club's storied history. During the 2013 - 2014 season, van Dijk chalked up 36 appearances and notched up five goals. In the proceeding season, he played in 35 league matches and scored four goals, continuing his fine form. However, his stint at Celtic wasn't extensive, as by the start of the 2015 - 2016 season, he headed southward to England, after making a measly five appearances for the Hoops.
In September 2015, van Dijk transferred from Celtic to Southampton in the Championship for a substantial fee of around £12m. Despite being at a tumultuous club, he held his own, making 34 appearances and scoring three goals in his debut season. His appearances somewhat dwindled in the subsequent seasons due to injury and potential transfer saga, but his performances remained unmoved.
The saga reached its climax in January 2018, as van Dijk transferred from Southampton to Liverpool for an eye-watering fee of around £75m, a record-breaking figure for a defender. At Liverpool, he has become an integral part of the team's success, making numerous appearances and contributing goals despite his defensive role. His latest stats for the 2025 - 2026 season show that he has made 26 appearances and scored two goals so far.
Besides league action, van Dijk has also been crucial in various tournaments. In the FA Cup 2025 - 2026, he played for Liverpool with two starts. During the World Cup Qualifiers Europe 2024 - 2026, he represented Netherlands, scoring two goals in eight starts. In the FA Community Shield 2025 - 2026, he played for Liverpool with one start, and in the Champions League 2025 - 2026, he found the back of the net twice in eight starts for Liverpool.
