Virgil van Dijk, born on 8 July 1991 in the Netherlands, is a commanding central defender currently at the heart of the Liverpool backline. Standing at 1.93m (6ft 3in) and weighing 92kg (14st 6lb), his physical presence is as renowned as his technical prowess. He also bears the number 4 for his current club and dutifully represents his home country on the international stage.
His professional footballing journey began in the 2010 season, with FC Groningen of the Eredivisie in the Netherlands. He went on to prove his worth, increasing his first-team appearances from two in his debut season, to thirty-two by the 2012-2013 season, in which he also netted two goals.
Notoriously, Celtic was watching. In July 2013, he made the journey across the North Sea to join the preeminent Scottish side for a fee of approximately £2.6m. Here he flourished, taking his game to new heights. In his first season, he made 36 first-team appearances, scoring an impressive five goals despite his defensive duties. That goal tally was only slightly reduced in the following season (2014-2015) as he found the net four times from 35 appearances. His final season at Celtic ended abruptly, however, with only five appearances before a significant turn of events.
After a stint in Scotland, Van Dijk was transferred to Southampton in the Premier League in September 2015, for about £12m. His time at Southampton was a stepping stone towards a more significant opportunity, and he didn't disappoint. Despite early challenges that led to a drop in his appearances, his mettle prevailed, ensuring he was a key component of the Southampton defence.
By January 2018, Liverpool had earmarked Van Dijk as the solution to their defensive infirmities. They parted with a now seemingly bargain £75m to secure his services, marking the beginning of an illustrious journey. The Dutch talisman has since, become a fundamental figure within the Liverpool squad, contributing to the team's numerous successes. His irrefutable influence, supplemented by his knack for goal-scoring from the back, has engraved his name amongst Liverpool's revered defensive elites.
On the bigger stage, Van Dijk has turned out to be a reliable figure for the Netherlands national team, making appearances in important competitions such as the Euro 2024 and the Euro Qualifiers 2022-2024. He has also contributed significantly to Liverpool's domestic and continental campaigns, including the Champions League and the FA Cup.
