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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Sports Desk • Soccer

Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Liverpool and the Netherlands national team.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Virgil van Dijk is a Dutch professional footballer widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs of his generation. He captains both Liverpool and the Netherlands national team.

What it is

Van Dijk plays as a centre-back for Liverpool and the Netherlands. Born in Breda in 1991, he developed in Dutch football before moving to Celtic and then Southampton. Liverpool signed him in January 2018 for a reported fee of about €84 million (£75 million), making him one of the most expensive defenders ever.

Key details

Van Dijk won the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award in 2019. He became Liverpool captain in 2023. In October 2020, he suffered a serious knee injury after a collision with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, but returned to play afterward. He is married to Rike Nooitgedagt.

Why it matters

Van Dijk’s presence has transformed Liverpool’s defence and helped the club win major trophies. His leadership extends to the national team, where he also serves as captain. His recovery from a major injury demonstrated resilience, and he remains a key figure in world football.

In short

  • Virgil van Dijk is a Dutch centre-back and captain of Liverpool and the Netherlands.
  • Liverpool paid about €84 million for him in 2018, a record for a defender at the time.
  • He won UEFA Men’s Player of the Year in 2019 and returned from a serious knee injury in 2020.

Quick questions

How old is Virgil van Dijk?
He was born on 8 July 1991, so he is 34 years old.
What injury did Virgil van Dijk have?
He suffered a serious knee injury in 2020 after a collision with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
How much did Virgil van Dijk cost Liverpool?
The fee is widely reported as about £75 million, or about €84 million.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgil_van_Dijk
    Supports: Date of birth, nationality, position, Liverpool and Netherlands roles, and overview biography.
  2. Soccerbase — https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=59442
    Supports: Age, birthplace, position, current club, and Liverpool transfer fee.
  3. Transfermarkt — https://www.transfermarkt.com/virgil-van-dijk/profil/spieler/139208
    Supports: Birth date, position, current club, and contract/transfer-related profile details.
  4. Premier League — https://www.premierleague.com/en/players/97032/virgil-van-dijk/overview
    Supports: Nationality, preferred foot, date of birth, and current club profile.
  5. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/157892/virgil-van-dijk
    Supports: Birthdate, age, club, and position.
  6. Famous Birthdays — https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/virgil-vandijk.html
    Supports: Wife's name and family details.