Virgil van Dijk has confirmed that Liverpool have officially begun contract negotiations with his representatives, with the club captain assuring fans of his full commitment to the team. This marks the first time Van Dijk has publicly acknowledged that discussions are underway to extend his stay at Anfield.
The Dutch defender, who has been a vital part of Liverpool since his record £75 million transfer from Southampton in 2018, said he is hopeful that a resolution will be reached before his current deal expires at the end of the season.
In a recent interview after Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea, Van Dijk stated, “I can say obviously discussions are ongoing, but I don’t know, we will see what happens in the future. My very full focus is on Liverpool, wanting to win games that are ahead of me and nothing else.”
Van Dijk, 33, is one of Liverpool’s highest earners and could be free to speak with other clubs outside of England from January 1. However, the center-back emphasized that his attention remains solely on Liverpool’s success. “What the future will bring I have no idea at the moment,” he added. “But now, full commitment and focus is on Liverpool and to be successful this season. So we will see.”
Liverpool, currently at the top of the Premier League, face a tough schedule in the coming weeks, including a Champions League clash against RB Leipzig and a match against Arsenal. Van Dijk expressed his excitement for the upcoming games, saying, “This is what you want to do, you want to play on the highest level and perform and show what we can do.”
The captain also praised his teammate Curtis Jones, who scored the winning goal against Chelsea. “He was man of the match today, scoring the winner, but apart from that he was outstanding in the defensive work he did,” Van Dijk said. “He kept Cole Palmer very quiet, and I think that is what pleased me the most.”
With negotiations ongoing, Liverpool fans will be eager to see their captain commit his future to the club as they aim for more success this season.
