After a period of uncertainty, Virgil van Dijk has signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool. Here we take a closer look at the iconic captain’s life
Since his £75million move from Southampton in January 2018, Virgil van Dijk has established himself as a Liverpool legend and one of the most formidable defenders on the planet. Following months of speculation about his future, the Reds’ skipper has now signed a contract extension with the club.
Following Mohamed Salah, who signed a new contract earlier this month, Van Dijk has alleviated fans’ concerns by agreeing to an additional two years on Merseyside.
As Arne Slot’s side edges closer to their second Premier League title in six years, the prestigious trophy will likely be Van Dijk’s ninth significant honour since joining Anfield.
Liverpool fans are rejoicing over the news that their Champions League-winning talisman is here to stay, so we’ve taken a closer look at the club’s Dutch colossus.
Net worth
Van Dijk is estimated to have a net worth of nearly £23million. The Dutchman’s previous Liverpool contract, signed in 2021, saw him earn a base salary of £11.4m annually. However, his new contract is believed to be around £350,000/£400,000 per week.
In addition to his club earnings, the 33-year-old also rakes in a substantial amount through his various endorsements, which include contracts with Nike, EA Sports, Heineken, and Cadbury.
His wife
Van Dijk met his wife, Rike Nooitgedagt, when he was 20 years old, with both hailing from Breda in the Netherlands. The pair tied the knot in 2017 and now share two children, Nila and Jadi.
Nooitgedagt, originally a fashion sales manager in her homeland, left her career to follow Van Dijk when he signed for Celtic in 2013. While she keeps a low profile on social media, she has previously opened up about her life with the Liverpool star.
“I worked as a sales manager and sold different fashion brands to the stores in Holland,” she once said. “I loved it but had to resign to follow my man everywhere football takes him to.”
New Liverpool contract
Van Dijk took over the Liverpool captaincy from Jordan Henderson in 2023 and has made 314 appearances for the Reds. The thought of him leaving after such a successful stint seemed unthinkable, and his contract extension until at least 2027 has only solidified his legendary status among the Anfield faithful.
“It was always Liverpool,” Van Dijk said. “That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan, and it was always Liverpool. Someone called me the other day an adopted Scouser – I’m really proud to hear these things, it gives me a great feeling.”
The house he rented from a Man United icon
In a surprising twist of football rivalry, it was revealed that Van Dijk once lived in a Cheshire mansion owned by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the former Manchester United player and manager.
Solskjaer had held onto the property from his United days and was looking to relocate closer to Manchester in 2019 when he was on the verge of becoming the club’s boss. This meant potentially displacing his tenants, the Van Dijks. When quizzed about the prospect, the Norwegian quipped: “Yeah, he’s [Van Dijk] evicted.”