The Holland international has committed his future to the Reds ahead of the new Premier League season.
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Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool on Friday. On the back of an injury-hit campaign, the defender has committed his future to the Reds by putting pen to paper at Anfield. With the new Premier League season about to start, the defender ensured that his three-and-a-half-year association with the club will be prolonged further. Asked how it felt to have inked the fresh terms, Van Dijk told Liverpoolfc.com: “Amazing. It is something to be very proud of, that I am very proud of, that my wife and my kids are very proud of and obviously my agency. All the hard work we’ve put in so far continues and I am looking forward to what the future brings together with Liverpool. I’m delighted, very happy and proud.”
After joining Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018, Virgil van Dijk quickly established himself as a regular starter in Jurgen Klopp’s defence. The Netherlands captain has made 130 appearances for the club, scoring 13 goals in the process. He has also collected winner’s medals in the Premier League, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
“Since day one when I joined the club, I felt so much appreciation from the fans and from my teammates and the staff, that I could be a very important member of this football club,” Van Dijk continued. “It has been going well; unfortunately last season for me personally has been a season to forget, to learn from and take with me, but I have enjoyed my time here and will keep enjoying it in the next couple of years altogether with all of you.”
A knee surgery last October curtailed Van Dijk’s 2020-21 season prematurely and now the centre-back is currently working his way back to full fitness. The new campaign for the Reds begin on Saturday at Norwich City. The 30-year-old defender said, “I feel good. Obviously [they were] friendlies, you get your match fitness up, get into repetitions of doing things again and again.”
“I feel like I am ready for the weekend, so we’ll see what the manager decides. It is going to be a totally different atmosphere and mindset for me personally as well. It is something we fight for, for the points, and hopefully we can get a positive result out of it.”
Virgil van Dijk also spoke about his relationship with the manager and the backroom staff. “I am open, I feel like, as I said before, we’re all in the same boat and we all want the same positive results, positive outcomes in things, especially in games,” he added.
“Therefore, you have to be open to each other, you have to feel like you can say anything – in a respectful manner – to each other and be open about your feelings. That’s how I am with the manager and if there is anything that bothers me or that I think could help the club or help the team, I will open up and say that to him – and the same goes for the rest as well.”
