Virgil van Dijk has signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool, becoming the Premier League’s third-highest-paid player with a deal worth £40 million.
The Dutch centre-back, who is also the club captain, will remain at Anfield until 2027 in what is seen as a significant boost for the Reds as the season nears its conclusion.
This fresh commitment reflects the club’s new leadership direction under incoming manager Arne Slot, showing greater flexibility with experienced stars. Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah – both key figures for Liverpool – are set to be 35 and 36, respectively, when their current deals expire.
Despite not fitting Liverpool’s traditional recruitment model, the pair’s extensions underline their enduring importance to the squad. Van Dijk is now believed to be earning up to £400,000 per week – a salary that places him just behind Salah and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in the Premier League wage rankings.
Haaland remains the top earner on £500,000 per week, followed by Salah at £480,000 per week. Van Dijk’s deal, worth around £40 million in total, includes team-based bonuses only, with the majority of his wages guaranteed.
READ ALSO: Arsenal defeat Madrid, advance to UCL semi-final
While Kevin De Bruyne currently earns a similar £20 million-a-year package, he is expected to leave Manchester City this summer. Liverpool’s renewed faith in Van Dijk stands in contrast, reaffirming his vital role in the club’s ambitions moving forward.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Van Dijk expressed his joy at extending his stay: “It always felt right. I said it from the first day that it felt right, and I think it showed in the years we have spent together.”
He added, “This is the place for me to be, to spend my best years, and be successful with the club. I love the city, I love the club, I love the fans, I love my teammates. I love everything that embodies Liverpool. On to many more.”
Van Dijk joined Liverpool in 2018 and has since become one of the most influential defenders in world football.
Crediblenewsng.com
