Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is set to sign a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2025, according to Neil Moxley of The Mirror. The Dutchman’s original deal was not due to expire until 2023 but Liverpool moved quickly to tie him down in the wake of Harry Maguire’s huge £80 million move to Manchester United.
Virgil van Dijk Reportedly Set to Sign New Liverpool Deal
Best in the World
Much had been made of Liverpool’s defensive capabilities prior to Van Dijk’s arrival midway through the 2017/18 season. For the large part, they were sloppy and had no depth in the position whatsoever. Once Van Dijk came in, though, everything seemed to change, and things have got drastically better for both the team and him personally.
After missing out on a Champions League title in his first six months at the club, Van Dijk went from strength to strength in 2018/19 and helped Liverpool to their record Premier League points total as well as the Champions League after beating Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
On a personal level it was a season of success for Van Dijk too. Along with teammate Sadio Mane, he was one of six players to be nominated for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, he was named in the PFA Team of the Year alongside teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mane and Andrew Robertson, and he secured the UEFA Player of the Year award.
The Deal
For Liverpool, it means that arguably the best defender in the world will be sticking around, potentially, until he is in the latter stages of his career. However, there is also a big wage boost increased for the player.
According to Moxley’s report, Van Dijk will go from earning £125,000 to £200,000 with the new contract, a wage far more befitting of somebody with the Dutchman’s quality.
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