Virgil van Dijk, born on 8 July 1991 in the Netherlands, presently plays as a central defender for Liverpool. Standing at an imposing 6ft 3in (1.93m) and tipping the scales at 14st 6lb (92kg), he's an undeniable presence on the pitch. Adorning the number 4 jersey, van Dijk has not only made his mark at club level but also consistently represented his home country, the Netherlands, on an international level.
Replacing the confines of the academy, van Dijk joined FC Groningen in the top-flight Eredivisie in July 2010. With merely two appearances in his inaugural season, he gradually carved out a more significant role, making 23 appearances and striking three goals in his second season, further amplifying his contribution with 32 appearances and netting two goals in his third season.
By July 2013, Celtic in the Scottish Premiership recognised van Dijk's potential, acquiring his services from FC Groningen for a fee rounded off to about £2.6 million. Donning the green and white hoops, van Dijk was an immediate hit in Scotland. In his debut season of 2013-2014, he made 36 league appearances, bagged five goals, and became a linchpin at the heart of Celtic's defence. The following season he maintained his robust showings with 35 appearances and four goals. Albeit the 2015-2016 season witnessed van Dijk taking to the field just five times for Celtic, his impact in previous seasons was undoubtable.
Saints marched in for van Dijk in September 2015, resulting in a move to Southampton in the Premier League with a sizeable fee of £12m registered. In the south coast of England, van Dijk made prominent impacts, making 34 appearances and scoring three goals in the initial season, although ensuing seasons saw his playtime curtailed due to various circumstances
Van Dijk's breakout at Southampton did not go unnoticed, leading him to Liverpool in January 2018 for a jaw-dropping price of approximately £75m.
Since his arrival, the Anfield faithful have witnessed compelling defensive performances that have helped Liverpool secure considerable domestic and continental successes. Even though his appearances varied from season to season at Liverpool, van Dijk ensured his presence mattered, both defensively and occasionally, adding to the goal tally.On the continental front, van Dijk exhibited commendable performances in the Champions League and Europa League for Liverpool. Euro 2024 saw him represent his native Netherlands, alongside appearances in the Euro Qualifiers and the Nations League. Be it domestic, continental or international, van Dijk's proficiency in defence remains undiminished.
