Virgil van Dijk extends stay at Liverpool FC — the right call?

Virgil van Dijk has signed a new contract with Liverpool Football Club and is set to stay with the club beyond the 2024/25 season.

The Dutchman’s extension follows Mohamed Salah’s new deal from last week. 

According to reports, Van Dijk has signed a two-year deal keeping him at the club until July 2027.

On his extension, the 33-year-old Netherlands international said: 

“I’m very happy, very proud. There are so many emotions obviously that go through my head right now speaking about it.

“It’s a proud feeling, it’s a feeling of joy. It’s just incredible. The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing and I’m so happy.

“It was always Liverpool. That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan and it was always Liverpool.

“There wasn’t any doubt in my head that this is the place to be for me and my family. I’m one of Liverpool. Someone called me the other day an adopted Scouser – I’m really proud to hear these things, it gives me a great feeling.”

Looking at the broader picture, Van Dijk’s contract extension comes as a massive boost for the Reds, who have now managed to retain the services of two out of their three superstars who have had their contracts running out for the majority of this season. Although Trent Alexander-Arnold will be a big miss going forward, Van Dijk’s presence—both as a player and a leader—will be vital for Arne Slot’s squad-building over the next seasons. 

At the moment, Liverpool have some promising youngsters in the squad, but most of their key starters are in their 30s. Slot has done a wonderful job in his first season at the helm, but the real challenge will arrive next season as he will be expected to maintain the same standards.

Van Dijk’s extension also frees up Liverpool to go all out for a striker, a left-back, and a defensive midfielder in the summer, while also having the luxury of bringing in young, exciting successors to both Salah and Van Dijk. 

In recent years, Liverpool have been guilty of either not recruiting the right players or failing to close down deals for their primary targets. Thus, the coming transfer will be decisive in terms of their success over the next couple of seasons. For now, Liverpool have started in the right direction by securing the services of their two veteran stars.