The Liverpool center-back, often considered to be one of the greatest-ever players in his position, has provided a massive update regarding his current contract situation at the club.
The Dutchman’s current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2025. The deal is also complicated because fellow stars Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contracts are also set to expire in the summer of 2025, meaning that Liverpool will need to be prepared to navigate the negotiation dynamic of their three top superstars requiring new deals all at once. For van Dijk specifically, while there has been a considerable amount of silence regarding any updates, the man himself has now admitted that there has been progress, and negotiations are ‘ongoing.’
“I can say discussions are ongoing, but I don’t know what happens in the future,” he said. “My very full focus is on Liverpool, wanting to win games that are ahead of me, and nothing else. What the future will bring I have no idea at the moment. I can only tell you that discussions are ongoing with the right people and when it’s time to make a decision or whatever, I think you guys will know it as well. But now full commitment and focus is on Liverpool and being successful this season. So we will see.”
He went on to say that he is “having fun” and is physically feeling as good as he has ever been, a testament to the high morale surrounding new Liverpool boss Arne Slot’s dressing room.
Prior to joining Liverpool, van Dijk got his professional club start at Dutch Eredivisie club FC Gronigen– during which time he just happened to play a match against his future manager, Arne Slot. He would then move to Celtic in Scotland and then Southampton in the Premier League, where he would establish himself as one of the best defenders in the entire league. It seemed every major club in the world wanted to sign him, but he chose Liverpool. It was there he would go on to win the UEFEA Champions League, Premier League, and be named runner-up in the Balon d’Or ceremony — the first time a defender finished that high since 2006.