17/04/2025 14:58
Virgil van Dijk plans to stay at Liverpool past the length of his new contract as the defender feels he can play at an elite club years to come.
Van Dijk agreed terms for a new two-year contract on Thursday (17 April), joining Mohamed Salah in committing his future to Liverpool just six days after the Egyptian.
There are no break or release clauses in the latest deal and the 33-year-old will not be on reduced terms meaning he continues to earn a salary believed to be in the region of £400,000 per week. [The Athletic]
After finally putting an end to speculation that he could leave the club, it has now emerged that Van Dijk “does not intend” for his time in Merseyside to come to an end when his new deal expires in 2027.
Virgil Van Dijk feels he can play elite level football for “many more years”
According to The Times‘ Paul Joyce, the 33-year-old’s new two-year deal is worth somewhere in the region of £40million, but Van Dijk is “hungry” to achieve more.
The report states that despite the new contract running past Van Dijk’s 36th birthday into the summer of 2027, that he isn’t expecting his time at the club to come to an end then.
The Netherlands international has played every minute in the Premier League this season with a huge factor behind this being his regimented recovery process, which includes reporting on days off for extra treatment alongside regular ice baths and time in cryotherapy chambers.
As a result the defender believes he can mirror that of Thiago Silva at Chelsea and feels he can carry on playing at an elite level for “many more years”.
Van Dijk stats for Liverpool 24/25 |
Games – 44 |
Goals – 4 |
Assists – 1 |
Liverpool to assess the situation closer to the time
Football Insider Verdict
Having signed his new contract a matter of hours ago, it would be surprising if Liverpool were thinking about whether Van Dijk will be at the club beyond 2027.
There’s no doubt his fitness record is incredible, with the centre-back playing every moment of the league season, and 3,987 minutes across 44 appearances in all competitions.
If he can continue this sort of involvement into his mid-thirties, then it may play a deciding role closer to the time in whether Slot, or whoever is in charge at the time, will want to keep the player in spite of his huge wages.
Undoubtedly, Van Dijk has been a top professional during his time in England and recovered exceptionally well after suffering an ACL injury.
However, for now the focus will be on finishing the season in style and securing the Premier League title in Slot‘s first season at the helm.
Van Dijk has earned his new deal but now he will have to prove it was no mistake for Liverpool to buck their strategy with over-30s and put together a body of work worthy of yet another extension in 2027.
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