Virgil van Dijk, born in the Netherlands on 8 July 1991, currently aged 34, is known for his commanding presence as a central defender for Liverpool. At a towering 6ft 3in (1.93m) in height and tipping the scale at 14st 6lb (92kg), he easily stands out on the pitch. Known by his number 4 jersey, van Dijk has also had the honour of representing his home country, the Netherlands, at an international level.
His initial addition to FC Groningen in the Netherlands' Eredivisie, took place back in July 2010. In his debut 2010 - 2011 season with FC Groningen, van Dijk displayed promise in his two first team league appearances. This promising trend continued into the next season, 2011 - 2012, with an impressive 23 first team appearances and contributing three goals. In the 2012 - 2013 season, he made a total of 32 first team appearances, with an additional two goals under his belt.
In July 2013, van Dijk swapped the Eredivisie for the Premiership, transferring from FC Groningen to Celtic in Scotland for a sum near to £2.6 million. His time at Celtic saw him turn into a significant player; in the 2013 - 2014 season, van Dijk made 36 first team appearances and chalked up five goals. The following season in 2014 - 2015, he continued to be a stalwart in the first team, with 35 appearances and four goals. By 2015 - 2016 season, his appearances were limited to five, as change was on the horizon.
In September 2015, van Dijk transferred from Scotland's top tier to England, joining Southampton in the Championship, for a sum of approximately £12 million. He marked his first 2015 - 2016 season with Southampton by making 34 first team appearances and scoring three goals. His following seasons saw continued first-team action despite a noticeable drop in appearances and goals.
In a career-changing move in January 2018, van Dijk transferred from Southampton to Liverpool in England's top-tier Premier League, for a staggering sum of around £75 million. This acquisition went down as one of the most expensive transfers in football history. His performances for Liverpool have proven his defensive prowess and goal-scoring capabilities. Throughout several seasons, van Dijk has consistently been a cornerstone of Liverpool's defence, regularly completing 30-plus appearances per season and contributing numerous goals.
During his time at Liverpool, van Dijk's performances have not been limited to solely the Premier League. He has participated in both national and intercontinental cup competitions including the FA Cup, World Cup Qualifiers for the Netherlands, the FA Community Shield, and the Champions League.
