Virgil van Dijk, born in Breda on 8 July 1991 (age 34), is a Netherlands international central defender and a commanding 6ft 4in (1.93m) presence. His senior career began at FC Groningen, but his first major step came with Celtic, who signed him in July 2013 for around £2.5m.
Celtic did not keep him for long, which is usually how it goes when a defender of that size and composure settles quickly in Scotland. In September 2015 he left for Southampton in a deal worth around £12m, having used his time in Glasgow to move himself into the English market rather efficiently.
Southampton was the bridge, but Liverpool is where his career has been shaped most clearly. Across nine seasons there he has made 272 league appearances and scored 27 league goals, becoming a long-term fixture rather than a passing upgrade. That distinction matters; plenty arrive with a fee and a reputation, fewer stay central to the side for years.
He remains a regular first-team presence in 2025-26. For Liverpool this season he has made 55 appearances in all competitions and scored eight goals, including 38 league appearances and six league goals. He has also played 12 times in the Champions League, scoring twice, and has continued with the Netherlands in European World Cup qualifying.
Van Dijk’s career runs from Groningen to Celtic, on to Southampton, and then into an extended Liverpool spell that now outweighs everything else. Celtic were an important early stage in that rise, but Liverpool is where the bulk of his senior career has been played.
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