Virgil van Dijk's contract at Liverpool expires next summer, and the question dominating discussions around Anfield is simple: will he finish his career where he has spent his greatest years, or will he move on?
Speaking to reporters at Selhurst Park this week, the Liverpool captain was measured in his response. "Let's see what the season brings. I've had an amazing time already so far. If that will be extended, that's the case. If not, then I will go somewhere else," he said. The tone suggested a desire to stay — but nothing is settled.
A defender who has defined an era
Van Dijk, now 35, is widely regarded as one of the greatest centre-halves in Liverpool's history — a lineage that places him alongside Alan Hansen. After Liverpool beat Brighton in October, Van Dijk met Hansen in the Boardroom at Anfield, a meeting he had personally arranged: it was Van Dijk who requested that Hansen present him with the Premier League trophy at the end of the 2024-25 season.
The question of whether he will follow Hansen's example and see out his playing days at the club hangs over every contract update. Two seasons ago, a similar situation resolved itself when Van Dijk signed a two-year deal in April 2025. Whether the same outcome follows remains to be seen.
Standards still high — but Liverpool are wary
Aside from an error against Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League, Van Dijk has maintained elite-level performance this season. His partnership with Jeremy Jacquet has grown steadily since the summer, and he has played every minute of Premier League football since the start of last season. A minor knock has kept him out of the Netherlands squad for the first international window he has missed since Euro 2020, though the issue is not considered serious.
The numbers back up the eye test. Per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, Van Dijk averages 60.7 successful passes, wins possession 3.5 times, and makes 7.1 clearances. He succeeds in 75 percent of duels and 79 percent of aerial contests. His influence extends beyond statistics — it was Van Dijk who suggested to manager Andoni Iraola that the squad should visit the Anfield museum to understand the club's history.
Yet Liverpool's hierarchy have recent history as a cautionary tale. Mohamed Salah delivered a stellar 2024-25 campaign before his output dropped sharply in 2025-26. The club will not want a repeat of that contractual drift with another of their most important players. Van Dijk's reported salary of around £400,000 a week — unchanged from his 2025 renewal — also weighs heavily on any calculation.
What Liverpool do next
Liverpool are not short of central defensive options. Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, and Mor Talla Ndiaye represent a promising pool of young talent. Joe Gomez, 29, is also out of contract this summer, while the club hold an option to sign Ronald Araujo, 27, from Barcelona. Even so, allowing Van Dijk to leave would create a significant leadership void that those options may struggle to fill.
Van Dijk has scored 36 goals for Liverpool — a club record for a defender — and is on course to make his 390th appearance against Manchester United after the international break. Reaching 400 appearances by the end of the calendar year looks likely, a milestone achieved by only 27 Liverpool players before him.
Sporting director Julian Ward is expected to make the Van Dijk situation a priority in the months ahead. A resolution before 2027 is not anticipated, given that both sides appear content to let the season develop. From January, Van Dijk will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with a club outside England, and AC Milan, Juventus, and clubs in Turkey have been mentioned as interested parties — though a departure this summer would still represent a considerable surprise.
