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Why the new Virgil van Dijk hasn't yet played a minute for Liverpool

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Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during the warm up before the match

Published Oct 4, 2026, 7:15 AM GMT+1

Robbie is the Assistant Editor at Football FanCast, specialising in football analysis, transfer coverage and feature writing, with particular expertise in Manchester United, Celtic, Rangers and the wider Premier League and Scottish football.

A sports journalist since graduating from the University of Exeter in 2020, Robbie has spent more than six years covering professional football across the Premier League, EFL, SPFL and European competitions. His career has included news and feature work for 90min and more than a year covering the Premier League and Manchester United in particular at Football Faithful.

Robbie joined Football FanCast through the site's academy programme in 2022, progressing to the Exclusives team before becoming Assistant Editor in October 2023. His work combines original reporting, transfer insight, football analysis and informed feature writing, with a particular focus on understanding the context behind the latest news and what developments mean for clubs, managers and players.

He has developed extensive knowledge of Manchester United, Celtic and Rangers through regular coverage, while also bringing a broad understanding of the Premier League, EFL and Scottish football. His experience covering the game extends beyond the page, with a long-standing connection to Wycombe Wanderers that has seen him attend home and away matches for more than two decades.

Through his reporting and analysis, Robbie provides readers with credible football insight, informed transfer assessment and detailed coverage that goes beyond the headline, drawing on years of experience following clubs and competitions at close range.

The word 'legend' is thrown around all too readily in modern football, as is the term 'world-class'. Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk certainly meets both criteria.

Even now, at 35, the towering Dutchman would arguably walk into any team in the world, having cemented his place among the best in his position for so long.

As per Liverpool's official website, he ranks eighth in the list of the club's greatest ever players, a fitting reward for all he has achieved over the past eight years or so.

A central figure in Jurgen Klopp's glorious side, Van Dijk has seen so many of his teammates fly the nest in recent seasons. Will he be the next?

Will Van Dijk sign a contract extension at Liverpool?

In the fallout from this ongoing Manchester City saga, it has again brought into focus just what an achievement it was for Klopp's men to have pushed Pep Guardiola's dominant side so close in this now-tainted period.

Let's face it, Van Dijk should well have more than two Premier League titles to his name, and perhaps he might soon enough depending on the punishments dished out, should City's appeal fall flat.

In any case, the former Southampton and Celtic man is a bonefied hero at Anfield, arguably only second to Mohamed Salah in terms of Klopp's best signings at the club.

In terms of status, however, throwing £75m on Van Dijk's arrival in January 2018 did mark something of a shift in the FSG era, that deal a real statement that Klopp and co were here to stay.

Now, heading into the final year of his deal on Merseyside, the question remains as to whether the veteran centre-back is here to stay beyond this season, having last extended his deal back in April 2025.

Returning sporting director, Julian Ward, certainly has a decision to make in terms of what to do with the iconic defender, with Van Dijk revealing last month that discussions are yet to be had regarding fresh terms.

Perhaps 2026/26 might mark the end of his time in a Liverpool shirt, although thankfully, the Reds look to have got the succession planning spot on.

Why Liverpool might have already signed the new Van Dijk

Following his abrupt exit at the end of last season, it's fair to say that Salah's void hasn't yet been filled at Anfield, if it ever could be, with the right flank still something of a concern despite the signing of Bradley Barcola.

Liverpool fans display a banner for Mohamed Salah before the match

The Reds don't appear to have got it right either in terms of replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, with the full-back berths a continued problem for both Arne Slot and now Andoni Iraola.

Thankfully, it is a different story at centre-back, with Van Dijk having found a perfect partner-in-crime in the form of Jeremy Jacquet, the Frenchman making an immediate impact following his £60m arrival from Rennes.

What do Liverpool's defenders earn?

Player	Weekly wage	Contract expiry
Virgil Van Dijk	£350,000	June 30, 2027
Ronald Araujo (loan)	£205,000	June 30, 2027
Jeremy Jacquet	£120,000	June 30, 2031
Jeremie Frimpong	£100,000	May 30, 2030
Joe Gomez	£85,000	June 30, 2027
Conor Bradley	£75,000	June 30, 2029
Milos Kerkez	£75,000	June 30, 2030
Konstantinos Tsimikas	£75,000	June 30, 2027
Giovanni Leoni	£55,000	June 30, 2031
Calvin Ramsay	£15,000	June 30, 2027

Looking longer-term, should Van Dijk himself depart, the Reds will need someone to slot in alongside Jacquet at centre-back, with teenage sensation, Ifeanyi Ndukwe seemingly a prime candidate to do just that.

Back in January, it was confirmed that FSG had struck a deal to sign the 6 foot 6 centre-back from Austria Wien on a £2.6m deal, with the defender officially making the move this summer after turning 18.

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah during the warm up

Ndukwe subsequently featured heavily in pre-season under Iraola, looking particularly commanding in his 45-minute outing against Monaco, having won 100% of his duels and completed 96% of his passing against the Ligue 1 side.

Considering the Reds are short on depth at centre-back, following Ibrahima Konate's free transfer exit, the teenage Austrian looked primed to be part of Iraola's squad this season.

Alas, the inability to gain a work permit has proved a real stumbling block, with the eye-catching defender instead heading off to join LaLiga outfit, Levante, on loan.

That should hopefully be a valuable next step for a player whom analyst Raj Chohan has described as having “got Van Dijk vibes”, with Ndukwe so dominant in the air yet also composed in possession.

It is early days for his time out in Spain, having made just two substitute appearances thus far, yet the youngster was immense in Austria's second tier last season, winning 9.2 duels per game on average.

There is a frustration that he can't just continue his development back at Anfield, as the wait to see him play a competitive first-team game goes on, yet a spell out on loan could ensure he's primed to go if and when Van Dijk calls it quits.

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