Virgil van Dijk is a Dutch football player who currently plays for Liverpool and is the captain of the Netherlands national side.
Widely renowned for being one of the world's best defenders in today's game, Van Dijk is the only defender to have won the prestigious UEFA Men's Player of the Year award. He also came runner-up in both the Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Men's Player award in 2019.
Starting his professional career at Groningen, Van Dijk made the switch to Scottish giants Celtic in 2013, where he won consecutive Scottish Premiership titles and the Scottish League Cup in his final season at the club.
In 2015, he joined Southampton before making the move to Liverpool in January 2018 for £75million - a world-record transfer fee for a defender at the time.
Recognised for his ball-playing skills, strength and leadership qualities, Van Dijk featured in both the 2018 and 2019 UEFA Champions League final, winning the latter.
In his first full season at Liverpool, Van Dijk was crowned both the PFA Players' Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season.
After securing the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 2019, he helped Liverpool end their 30-year title wait, winning the 2019/20 Premier League.
He was part of the Liverpool sides that won the 2022 FA and Carabao Cups, and scored the winning goal in the 2024 Carabao Cup final.
After making his international debut in 2015, Van Dijk was given the Netherlands captaincy in 2018 and a year later led them to the UEFA Nations League final, where they finished runners-up.
After two years at Celtic, winning their Players' Player of the Year award in his first season, Van Dijk sealed a move to Southampton in September 2015 for £11.5million.
Van Dijk signed a five-year contract with the Saints, with his debut ending in a goalless draw against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.
Van Dijk opened his account for Southampton in just his third Premier League appearance when his header helped the Saints to a 3-1 victory over Swansea City.
Van Dijk's first season proved to be successful on both a personal level and for his team. He helped Southampton finish sixth in the 2015/16 season - the best Premier League finish in the club's history. Also, Van Dijk won Southampton's Player of the Season award and was rewarded with a new six-year contract.
Van Dijk was named the new club captain of Southampton for the 2016/17 campaign after Jose Fonte's departure. However, an ankle injury ruled Van Dijk out of the 3-1 EFL Cup final defeat against Manchester United.
After another impressive season again from Van Dijk, Liverpool's interest in the Dutchman saw him hand in a transfer request.
Despite the delay and apology Liverpool had to make for an illegal approach, Van Dijk's last game for Southampton came in a 4-1 loss against Leicester in December 2017, before he made the switch to Liverpool in January 2018.
After two seasons at Southampton, Van Dijk sealed a controversial move to Liverpool in January 2018 for £75million.
Originally, the Dutchman was supposed to have joined Liverpool in the summer of 2017 for £60million but the Reds had to issue an apology to Southampton after making an illegal approach.
The transfer fee for Van Dijk was the world-record transfer fee for a defender, before Harry Maguire's £78million move from Leicester City to Manchester United in 2019 broke it.
Van Dijk's debut goal against Everton in the third round of the FA Cup saw him become the first player since Bill White in 1901 to score on his debut in the Merseyside Derby.
He was included in the 2017/18 Champions League Team of the Season, despite Liverpool losing to Real Madrid in the final.
The defender would taste Champions League success just a year later, however, when Liverpool triumphed in a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
Not only was he named UEFA's Man of the Match for the game, he was included in the PFA Team of the Year for the Premier League campaign that season.
Regarded as one of Jurgen Klopp's best signings, Van Dijk was the only player who featured in every single minute of Liverpool's 2019/20 Premier League campaign, which saw them end their 30-year drought for a league crown.
Van Dijk heavily contribute to Liverpool's 15 clean sheets, he also notched five league goals, with one coming in his first North-West Derby when Liverpool beat Manchester United 2-0 in 2020.
Van Dijk, who has brought calmness and steel to Liverpool's backline since moving to Merseyside, has struck up a great, but honest relationship with Jurgen Klopp.
"I definitely have a special connection with him," Van Dijk said in an interview. "And I will always be grateful for him making sure I was going to come here. He's just a fantastic, complete manager with a clear plan.
"I have a good relationship with him because he just tells you the truth and I will tell him the truth. That's something I really appreciate. I think he's definitely up there with the best coaches I've had."
Van Dijk started the 2020/21 season in good form again, but his season was ended prematurely in October when he suffered an ACL injury in his right knee following a collision with Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the Merseyside derby.
In March 2018, Van Dijk's former Southampton boss Ronald Koeman - a man who Van Dijk thinks very highly of - awarded him the captaincy of his country. "To be named captain is very special, it means a lot for me," Van Dijk said as the news was shared.
"Everyone knows he (Koeman) gave me my chance at Southampton and I'm very grateful for what he has done for me so far in my career."
Van Dijk scored his first goal for his country in March 2018, when his side demolished European champions Portugal, 3-0, at the Stade de Geneve. Van Dijk notched two goals against Germany in both UEFA Nations League games in 2018, before the Netherlands finished runners-up to Portugal.
Virgil van Dijk and his partner at the Ballon d'Or ceremony
Since turning professional, Van Dijk only uses his first name on the back of his shirt.
According to his uncle, Steven Fo Sieeuw, it's because of a family feud when father Ron van Dijk abandoned his Surinamese mother, Hellen Fo Sieeuw, and his two siblings when he was 12 years old.
Van Dijk has two siblings - brother Jordan, who is a businessman, and sister Jennifer, who both use their mother's maiden name Fo Sieeuw.
Reports suggest that Virgil van Dijk has a net worth of £42million and earns an annual salary of £11.4m a year.
Van Dijk is featured on the front cover of the FIFA 20 Champions Edition. Van Dijk earned $2.5million from his sponsorship deals with Nike and EA Sports.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is thriving under new head coach Arne Slot, taking pleasure in his role as the crucial link between Slot and his teammates.
Centre-back Ibrahima Konate is determined to establish himself as Virgil van Dijk's partner in the heart of Liverpool's defence, after the 2-0 win over Brentford.
Liverpool legend Ian Rush has said no one is bigger than the club but hopes Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold renew their contracts.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has said there's "no change" in his contract status but is optimistic about a fresh start with new head coach Arne Slot.
The Netherlands take on England in the second semi-final at Euro 2024 on Wednesday night (2000 BST) and we’re betting on extra time
The Netherlands will be hoping to pip France to top spot in Group D when they face an Austria side also in need of points in Berlin on Tuesday (1700 BST).
Let Planet Sport walk you through the 2024 European Championships with our detailed guide, including the groups, fixtures, knockout format and squad announcements.
