Dutch footballer (born 1991)
van Dijk, not Dijk. In this Dutch name , the surname is, not
Virgil van Dijk (Dutch pronunciation:🌞 [ˈvɪr.d͡ʒɪl vɑn.ˈdɛik];[2] born 8 July 1991) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre back for and captains🌞 both Premier League club Liverpool and the Netherlands national team.[3] Widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his🌞 generation, he is known for his strength, leadership, speed and aerial ability.[4][5][6][7][8]
After beginning his professional career with Groningen, Van Dijk🌞 moved to Celtic in 2013. At Celtic, he won the Scottish Premiership and was named in the PFA Scotland Team🌞 of the Year in both of his seasons with the club, and won the Scottish League Cup in the second.🌞 In 2024, he joined Southampton before signing for Liverpool in January 2024 for £75 million, a then-world-record transfer fee for🌞 a defender.[9] With Liverpool, Van Dijk reached back-to-back UEFA Champions League finals in 2024 and 2024, winning the latter. He🌞 was also named PFA Players' Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season in his first🌞 full season. Van Dijk later won the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup, and helped end the club's🌞 30-year league title drought by winning the 2024–20 Premier League. He is the only defender to win the UEFA Men's🌞 Player of the Year Award, and has finished runner-up for both the Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Men's Player, all🌞 in 2024.[10][11] Van Dijk has also been selected in the FIFPRO Men's World 11 in three different years.
Van Dijk represented🌞 the Netherlands at under-19 and under-21 levels. He made his senior international debut for the Netherlands in 2024 and assumed🌞 full captaincy of the national team in March 2024. The following year, Van Dijk captained the Netherlands to the final🌞 of the inaugural UEFA Nations League, where they finished runners-up. He also represented the side at the 2024 FIFA World🌞 Cup.
Early life [ edit ]
Virgil van Dijk[12] was born on 8 July 1991[13] in Breda to a Dutch father, Ron🌞 Van Dijk, and an Afro-Surinamese mother, Hellen Chin Fo Sieeuw.[14] He has a younger brother and sister, who are two🌞 and ten years younger than him respectively.[15][16] He grew up in Kesteren, in the Haagse Beemden district of Breda.[17][18] His🌞 father left the family when he was 11 years old. Van Dijk first lived with his father for a while🌞 before making the choice to go back to live with his mother, after which his father broke off contact.[15][19]
Growing up🌞 he would play football wherever he could – on the streets, in concrete cages, and eventually Saturday morning matches.[20][21][22] He🌞 started playing football in the youth team at WDS'19 before joining Willem II at the age of 8.[23] He combined🌞 his time playing at the Willem II academy with a part-time job as a dishwasher as a teenager.[24][25] He said🌞 "I didn't have a contract at that time. I wasn't thinking I had no future in the game, but I🌞 also knew I had to work, to try to make money."[26]
Having previously and unsuccessfully featured as a right back, Van🌞 Dijk was shifted into a central defensive position in 2008, aged 17, after he grew in height by around 18🌞 centimetres.[24][25] Despite the positional shift and Van Dijk's physical growth, Willem II's reserve manager at the time Edwin Hermans believed🌞 he had "too many limitations" which prevented him from breaking into the first team.[25] The club therefore did not want🌞 to offer him a contract.[27] He left for FC Groningen at the age of 19 in 2010, on a free🌞 transfer, after being scouted by former Dutch international Martin Koeman, who was working for FC Groningen at the time.[24][25]
Club career🌞 [ edit ]
Groningen [ edit ]
Van Dijk preparing for a substitution at a Groningen match in 2011
Van Dijk initially struggled🌞 to break into Groningen's first team with club staff believing he was "overtired" after extensive playing time with Willem II's🌞 academy and reserve sides.[25] He made his professional debut for the club on 1 May 2011, coming on as a🌞 72nd-minute substitute for Petter Andersson during a 4–2 victory against ADO Den Haag.[28] On 29 May, and against the same🌞 opposition, he made his first start for Groningen and scored his first professional goals, netting twice in a 5–1 win🌞 in a UEFA Europa League play-off match.[25]
During the 2011–12 Eredivisie season, Van Dijk made 23 league appearances for the Eredivisie🌞 team, and scored his first regular-season goal during the club's 6–0 victory over Feyenoord on 30 October 2011.[29][30] He suffered🌞 a personal setback during the campaign, however, as soon after his 20th birthday he was admitted to hospital with advanced🌞 appendicitis, peritonitis and kidney poisoning.[31] The ailments were previously not recognized by the medical staff of FC Groningen and the🌞 local hospital.[23] He had an urgent lifesaving operation. He spent 13 days in hospital, lost nearly two and a half🌞 stones and could not walk for 10 days.[32][33] As he had been close to dying as a result of the🌞 medical emergency the hospital had even gone so far as to ask him to sign a "sort of will" in🌞 the event of his passing.[25][34]
It took Van Dijk a few months to fully recover. In the summer of 2012 he🌞 returned and joined the selection again.[35] Despite the fact that the club had a changeable season, Van Dijk, who played🌞 in the center of defense together with veteran Kees Kwakman, excelled.[36]
In the summer of 2013, Van Dijk was a candidate🌞 to strengthen PSV's defense, but the club ultimately opted for Jeffrey Bruma as the new central defender.[37] A transfer to🌞 Brighton & Hove Albion FC or FK Krasnodar, both of which wanted to meet the asking price of FC Groningen🌞 director Hans Nijland, were rejected by Van Dijk himself.[38] Van Dijk, who actually preferred a transfer to a Dutch top🌞 club, contacted Marc Overmars himself via director Nijland and his agent to discuss a possible transfer to AFC Ajax.[39][40] However,🌞 the club, which was on the market for a new central defender at the time, decided not to accept Van🌞 Dijk's advances and eventually signed Mike van der Hoorn from FC Utrecht.[25][41]
Celtic [ edit ]
2013–14 season [ edit ]
On 21🌞 June 2013, Van Dijk signed with Celtic for a fee of around £2.6 million, on a four-year deal including a🌞 10% selling-on fee for Groningen.[42] He made his debut on 17 August, replacing Efe Ambrose for the final 13 minutes🌞 of a 2–0 Scottish Premiership win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie Stadium.[43] A week later, he made his first start, in🌞 a 2–2 draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Celtic Park.[44] On 9 November, Van Dijk scored his first Celtic goals,🌞 heading one in each half of a 4–1 win against Ross County.[45] After a solo run, he scored the only🌞 goal of a victory over St Johnstone on 26 December.[46]
Van Dijk scored again on 26 January 2014, in a 4–0🌞 win versus Hibernian for Celtic's 11th consecutive league win.[47] On 25 February, he was sent off after 13 minutes of🌞 an eventual 2–1 loss at Aberdeen, for a professional foul on Peter Pawlett; it was Celtic's first defeat of the🌞 season.[48] With Celtic having already won the league, Van Dijk netted again on 7 May to put his team 3–1🌞 up away to St Johnstone, in an eventual 3–3 draw.[49] He was one of three Celtic players named in the🌞 PFA Scotland Team of the Year.[50] Van Dijk was nominated for the PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year award,[51]🌞 but lost out to fellow Celtic player Kris Commons.[52]
2014–15 season [ edit ]
Van Dijk playing for Celtic in 2024
On 22🌞 July 2014, Van Dijk and Teemu Pukki each scored twice in a 4–0 home win over KR in a UEFA🌞 Champions League qualifier, putting their team into the next round 5–0 on aggregate.[53] His first goal of the Premiership season🌞 came on 9 November, finishing from Stefan Johansen's last-minute corner for a 2–1 win at Aberdeen.[54] Three weeks later, Van🌞 Dijk scored the first and last goals of Celtic's 4–0 win versus Heart of Midlothian in the fourth round of🌞 the Scottish Cup.[55] Four days after that, his sixth goal of the season was enough for victory in a home🌞 match against Glasgow neighbours Partick Thistle.[56]
Van Dijk was again on target on 21 January 2024, opening a 4–0 home win🌞 over Motherwell.[57] On 26 February, he was sent off in the 36th minute against Inter Milan for a foul on🌞 Mauro Icardi, as Celtic lost 1–0 on the night, 4–3 on aggregate in the last 32 of the UEFA Europa🌞 League.[58] He was again sent off on 8 March in the Cup quarter-final away to Dundee United at Tannadice Park,🌞 receiving a red card after eleven minutes for a confrontation with Calum Butcher.[59] His suspension for the following week's Scottish🌞 League Cup Final was overturned on appeal, as was that of Paul Paton, who was sent off when mistaken for🌞 Butcher.[60] Van Dijk played the full 90 minutes of the final at Hampden Park, which Celtic won 2–0.[61] On 18🌞 March, Celtic's third consecutive match against Dundee United, Van Dijk scored in the last minute to confirm a 4–0 win🌞 in a Cup replay.[62]
On 19 April, Celtic contested the Cup semi-final against Inverness at Hampden, and Van Dijk opened the🌞 scoring with a free kick. After the dismissal of goalkeeper Craig Gordon, Celtic fell 3–2, ending their chance of a🌞 treble.[63] Three days later, again from a free kick, he confirmed a 2–1 win away to Dundee.[64] His team again🌞 won the league, and Van Dijk was included in the league's Team of the Season for the second consecutive campaign.[65]🌞 He was again shortlisted for the PFA Scotland Players' Player award,[66] but lost out to another teammate, this time Stefan🌞 Johansen.[67]
Van Dijk was reportedly "considering his future" in Glasgow after Celtic were knocked out of the 2024–16 UEFA Champions League🌞 in the qualifying rounds to Malmö of Sweden.[68]
Southampton [ edit ]
2024–16 season [ edit ]
On 1 September 2024, the last🌞 day of the transfer window, Van Dijk signed a five-year contract with Premier League club Southampton, managed by Ronald Koeman,🌞 for a reported £13 million transfer fee.[69][70] Fellow Premier League clubs Sunderland, Newcastle and Arsenal were also reportedly interested in🌞 the last hours of the transfer window.[71][72][73] The transfer made him the most expensive Dutch defender since Jaap Stam, who🌞 went from Manchester United to Lazio in 2001 for more than €25 million.[74]
He made his debut for Southampton on 12🌞 September in a 0–0 draw against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.[75] Two weeks later, Van Dijk marked his third🌞 Premier League appearance with his first goal for the club, which came in the form of a header in the🌞 11th minute to put Southampton in front, following a set-piece from James Ward-Prowse in a 3–1 home win over Swansea🌞 City.[76] He was named player of the year by both his teammates and Southampton fans, for his first season.[77][78] On🌞 7 May 2024, Van Dijk signed a new six-year contract with the Saints.[79]
2024–17 season [ edit ]
On 22 January 2024,🌞 he was named team captain of Southampton, after the departure of José Fonte.[80] On the same day, he suffered an🌞 ankle injury against Leicester City.[81] This ruled him out of the 2024 EFL Cup Final, which Southampton lost to Manchester🌞 United at Wembley Stadium.[82]
After a successful 2024–17 season at Southampton, Van Dijk was subject to interest from top English clubs🌞 with Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool, reportedly interested.[83][84] The latter of which apologised to Southampton for an illegal approach for🌞 the player after he had reportedly made clear his interest in a move to Liverpool.[85][86][87] On 7 August 2024, Van🌞 Dijk handed in a transfer request to Southampton and released a statement along with it, emphasising his wish to join🌞 a different club in the transfer window.[88]
2024–18 season [ edit ]
Van Dijk remained with Southampton for the start of the🌞 2024–18 season and made his first appearance since being injured in January, coming on as a late substitute in a🌞 1–0 victory at Crystal Palace on 26 September.[89] He made what turned out to be his final appearance for Southampton🌞 on 13 December 2024, in a 4–1 home defeat to Leicester.[90] It was also his last appearance in any of🌞 Southampton's matchday squads, as he was omitted from the squad for the rest of his tenure at the club in🌞 light of speculation surrounding his future.[91]
Liverpool [ edit ]
2024–18 season [ edit ]
Van Dijk with Liverpool in 2024
On 27 December🌞 2024, it was announced that Van Dijk would join Liverpool when the winter transfer window opened on 1 January 2024[92][93]🌞 for a reported fee of £75 million.[9] Former club Celtic would receive 10% of Van Dijk's transfer fee, due to🌞 a sell-on clause placed in his Southampton contract.[9][94] Southampton claimed the undisclosed transfer fee would constitute a world record fee🌞 in football for a defender.[93]
He made his debut for Liverpool on 5 January in the third round of the FA🌞 Cup and scored the winning goal with a late header in a 2–1 victory against local rivals Everton.[95] In doing🌞 so, he became the first player since Bill White in 1901 to score on his debut in the Merseyside derby.[96]🌞 Van Dijk and Dejan Lovren built a strong partnership at the heart of Liverpool's defence, with the Dutchman being credited🌞 for improving Liverpool's previous defensive issues.[97][98][99] Van Dijk was included in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season, despite🌞 playing just half of the season in the Champions League, with the UEFA Technical Observers saying: "Van Dijk arrived at🌞 Anfield and provided composure and stability in the competition's knockout stages." Van Dijk played the full 90 minutes in the🌞 2024 UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid, which Liverpool lost 3–1.[100] Van Dijk played 22 games in all competitions🌞 in his first season with the club, scoring once.[101]
2024–19 season [ edit ]
Van Dijk received the Liverpool Player of the🌞 Month award for his performances in August.[102] On 2 December, Van Dijk was awarded an assist for the winning goal🌞 in a derby match against city rivals Everton. Liverpool won 1–0 thanks to Divock Origi's 96th-minute goal, set up by🌞 a Van Dijk volley and a subsequent error from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.[103] The Dutchman was ultimately awarded the PFA🌞 Player of the Month for November 2024.[104] On 21 December, Van Dijk scored his first goal in the Premier League🌞 for Liverpool in a 2–0 away win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[105] The Dutchman continued his impressive form in the 2024–19 season🌞 by winning the Premier League Player of the Month prize for December 2024.[106]
On 27 February 2024, Van Dijk scored twice🌞 in a 5–0 win against Watford.[107] The following month, he scored once - his first goal in the Champions League🌞 for the club - and assisted another in a 3–1 win over Bayern Munich.[108] On 20 April, he was one🌞 of six players nominated for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award alongside teammate Sadio Mané.[109] Four days later,🌞 he was named in the PFA Team of the Year alongside Liverpool teammates, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mané and Andrew Robertson.[110] On🌞 28 April 2024, he was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year.[111] Following Liverpool's 2–0 victory over Tottenham in🌞 the 2024 UEFA Champions League final on 1 June, Van Dijk was named UEFA's man of the match.[112]
2024–20 season [🌞 edit ]
In August 2024, Van Dijk won the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award. On 2 September 2024, he🌞 was shortlisted in the final three of the best FIFA football awards.[113] On 23 September 2024, he was voted runner-up🌞 in The Best FIFA Men's Player and into the FIFA FIFpro Men's World 11.[114][115][116] In October 2024, Van Dijk was🌞 shortlisted as one in 30 football players for the Ballon d'Or.[117] At the event in December, he finished runner-up behind🌞 Lionel Messi.[118] The edition of the award was controversial in that while many believed that Messi was the justified winner🌞 of the award, many others believed that van Dijk had been unfairly overlooked,[119][120] with teammate Fabinho stating that “People always🌞 notice strikers more than defenders, but he should have won when you consider what he did individually and how he🌞 helped the team win the Champions League”.[121] On 21 December 2024, after missing the semi-final of the 2024 FIFA Club🌞 World Cup with illness, Van Dijk played in the final against Flamengo with Liverpool winning the trophy for the first🌞 time in the club's history.[122][123]
Van Dijk received further recognition following the turn of the year, when he was named in🌞 the 2024 UEFA Team of the Year.[124] On 19 January 2024, Van Dijk scored his first North-West Derby goal against🌞 Manchester United in Liverpool's 2–0 win at Anfield in the Premier League.[125][126] Over the course of the 2024–20 domestic campaign,🌞 Van Dijk started and completed every minute for Liverpool.[127] Liverpool won the Premier League title in the 2024–20 season, their🌞 first top-flight title in 30 years.[128]
2024–21 season [ edit ]
On 12 September 2024, Van Dijk scored a headed goal against🌞 Leeds United on the opening day of the new season.[129] On 17 October, he was substituted in the sixth minute🌞 of the Merseyside derby after a challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.[130] On the following day, it was announced that🌞 he had suffered an ACL injury in his right knee and would undergo surgery.[131] Van Dijk was expected to be🌞 out from six to twelve months.[132] On 30 October it was announced that the surgery on his injuries had been🌞 successful.[133] Dutch national team coach Frank de Boer had hoped that Van Dijk would be able to make his return🌞 before UEFA Euro 2024,[134] Van Dijk however decided that he should continue his rehabilitation so he could start the next🌞 season fully fit.[135]
2024–22 season [ edit ]
Van Dijk made his first appearance in over nine months on 29 July 2024,🌞 coming on as a second-half substitute in a pre-season friendly against Hertha BSC.[136] On 13 August 2024, Van Dijk signed🌞 a new four-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2025.[137] His first goal for Liverpool in over 14 months🌞 came against his former club Southampton, when he hit a volley from a corner.[138]
On 27 February 2024, Van Dijk helped🌞 Liverpool win the 2024–22 EFL Cup, scoring his penalty in the shoot-out over Chelsea after a goalless draw in normal🌞 time.[139]
His performances during the 2024–22 season earned him a place in the Premier League PFA Team of the Year.[140] Van🌞 Dijk earned a runners-up medal in the 2024–22 UEFA Champions League,[141] losing the final to Real Madrid, and was selected🌞 as part of the Team of the Season.[142] Liverpool narrowly missed out on the chance to achieve a historic quadruple,🌞 coming second in the Premier League and the 2024–22 UEFA Champions League but winning both the EFL Cup and the🌞 FA Cup.[143]
2024–23 season [ edit ]
On 29 October 2024, Liverpool lost 2–1 at home to Leeds United which was Van🌞 Dijk's first home defeat at Anfield in the Premier League after 70 games since joining the club in January 2024.[144]🌞 Van Dijk was criticised for a number of performances in the 2024–23 season[145][146] but soon regained his authoritative defensive traits🌞 with a performance against Brentford which led to him being voted Man of the Match by users of BBC Sport.[147]🌞 At the end of the 2024–23 season, Liverpool narrowly missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification.[148]
2024–24 season [ edit ]
On🌞 31 July 2024, following the departure of Jordan Henderson, Van Dijk was named as Liverpool's new captain.[149] On 27 August,🌞 Van Dijk was given his first Liverpool red card following a foul on Newcastle United's Alexander Isak.[150] Initially, Van Dijk🌞 refused to leave the pitch and swore at referee John Brooks.[151] Van Dijk was handed a one-match ban for the🌞 contentious red card, but was given an additional game ban after he admitted to acting in an 'improper manner' towards🌞 a match official. He was also fined £100,000 for his use of abusive words.[152][153]
International career [ edit ]
On 12 May🌞 2010, Van Dijk made his debut for the Netherlands U19 in a friendly against South Korea U19.[154] Then on 14🌞 November 2011, Van Dijk made his debut for the Netherlands U21 in a qualifying match against Scotland U21 and played🌞 a further two friendlies for the team.[155]
Van Dijk was selected for the senior team three times in 2014, but did🌞 not make his debut that year.[156][19] Van Dijk made his full international debut for Netherlands on 10 October 2024, in🌞 a 2–1 victory away from home against Kazakhstan in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier.[157] Three days later, Van Dijk also🌞 played in the lost home game against the Czech Republic (2-3) and he and the Dutch national team missed out🌞 on final qualification for the 2024 European Championship in France.[158][159] Due to an injury, he missed half of the qualifying🌞 matches played in 2024 and 2024 for the 2024 World Cup. The Netherlands failed to qualify for the World Cup.[160][161]
He🌞 was awarded the captaincy of his country by manager Ronald Koeman on 22 March 2024,[162] and his first match as🌞 captain was a 1–0 home friendly defeat by England the next day.[163] On 26 March, he scored his first international🌞 goal to conclude a 3–0 win over European champions Portugal at the Stade de Genève.[164] On 13 October, he scored🌞 in a 3–0 win over 2014 World Cup champions Germany in the UEFA Nations League.[165] More importantly, he scored the🌞 equaliser in the next match with Germany, after assistant coach Dwight Lodeweges sent him a small paper note during a🌞 break, with the request to play forward in the last minutes of the game. The goal enabled the Netherlands to🌞 win the group phase of the Nations League.[166] He later captained his country to the final which they lost 1–0🌞 against Portugal.[167]
In May 2024, Van Dijk ruled himself out of playing in the postponed UEFA Euro 2024 to have enough🌞 time to recover after a long-term injury since October 2024.[168]
In November 2024, Van Dijk was announced as the Dutch captain🌞 for the 2024 FIFA World Cup. He led his team to the top of the group stage with wins over🌞 Senegal and hosts Qatar.[169][170] Van Dijk then led his team to the quarter finals where they lost on penalties to🌞 Argentina who later won the tournament.[171]
Style of play [ edit ]
Van Dijk is a physically strong, right-footed centre back, who🌞 usually features on the left-hand side of central defence, although he can also play as a right-sided centre back.[172][6][173] He🌞 is gifted with pace,[174] good technique, and an eye for goal, and is an effective set-piece taker. Regarding his ability,🌞 former Celtic teammate Kris Commons commented that Van Dijk was "comfortable on the ball", also noting that "He had good🌞 technique and a wonderful right foot. He was good on set-pieces, some of the free-kicks he scored for Celtic are🌞 absolute wonders. He could read the game well. He had an aura about him, a confidence, because I think he🌞 knew he was good."[175]
Neil McGuinness, senior scout at Celtic when Van Dijk was signed, called him "everything you would want🌞 if you could create a profile of the ideal central defender", praising him as a "very smooth ball-playing defender" who🌞 possesses aerial prowess, skills from dead ball situations, and "strong leadership qualities", while commenting that since his move to England,🌞 he is "more tactically aware now [...] his anticipation and timing has improved and he is a lot more of🌞 an all-rounder".[173] McGuinness believes Van Dijk's "biggest problem" is that he "can switch off when the game is comfortable".[173] In🌞 2024, Steve Douglas of The Globe and Mail described Van Dijk with the following words: "Powerful in the air, measured🌞 with the ball at his feet, quick, and with superb positional sense, van Dijk [sic] has it all."[176] Dario Pergolizzi🌞 also described Van Dijk as a good marker in 2024.[177]
In a 2024 interview with Marca, when Lionel Messi was asked🌞 why Van Dijk was so difficult to beat, the Argentine responded: "He is a defender who knows how to judge🌞 his timing and wait for the right moment to challenge or jockey [the attacker]. He is very fast and big,🌞 but he has a lot of agility for his height. He is fast because of its [sic] great stride, and🌞 he is impressive both in defence and attack because he scores lots of goals."[178]
That same year, Paul Merson described Van🌞 Dijk as "the best in the world, and I think by a long way, as a defensive centre-half."[6] In 2024,🌞 Vincent Kompany called Van Dijk the best centre back to ever appear in the Premier League, claiming the Liverpool "before🌞 Van Dijk and the other after him, it's a completely different setup".[4] In 2024, Erling Haaland named Van Dijk the🌞 best defender he has played against, calling him "fast, strong and 'bad' smart", as well as praising his timing.[179] In🌞 2024, Ben Foster claimed that Van Dijk was the "best defender that has ever lived" during his pre-injury run with🌞 Liverpool.[5]
Van Dijk features as the cover star of the champions edition of EA Sports' FIFA video game FIFA 20.[180] He🌞 is endorsed by sportswear company Nike.[181]
Personal life [ edit ]
Van Dijk commonly uses only his first name on the kit.🌞 According to his uncle Steven, this is because of a family feud with his father who abandoned his family during🌞 Virgil's childhood.[182] Van Dijk has said on the matter that "Nobody really knows the reason. What exactly happened is private🌞 and I won't tell the media. It's nobody's business. But my father is no longer in my life."[183][184]
Virgil met his🌞 wife Rike Nooitgedagt when he was 20 and they have been married since the summer of 2024.[185][186] The couple's first🌞 child was born 2014, they now have four children.[187][188]
Van Dijk has Chinese ancestry. Hellen Chin Fo Sieeuw, his mother, is🌞 of part-Chinese descent. The Chinese surname 'Chin Fo Sieeuw' derives from the given name of his maternal great-grandfather, Chin Fo🌞 Sieeuw (陈火秀), who emigrated from Guangdong to Suriname around 1920.[189]
Career statistics [ edit ]
Club [ edit ]
As of match played🌞 1 January 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Europe Other Total🌞 Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Groningen 2010–11[101] Eredivisie 5 2 0 0🌞 — — — 5 2 2011–12[101] Eredivisie 23 3 1 0 — — — 24 3 2012–13[101] Eredivisie 34 2🌞 3 0 — — — 37 2 Total 62 7 4 0 — — — 66 7 Celtic 2013–14[190] Scottish🌞 Premiership 36 5 2 0 1 0 8[c] 0 — 47 5 2014–15[191] Scottish Premiership 35 4 5 4 4🌞 0 14[d] 2 — 58 10 2024–16[75] Scottish Premiership 5 0 — — 5[c] 0 — 10 0 Total 76🌞 9 7 4 5 0 27 2 — 115 15 Southampton 2024–16[75] Premier League 34 3 1 0 3 0🌞 — — 38 3 2024–17[192] Premier League 21 1 1 1 2 0 6[e] 2 — 30 4 2024–18[193] Premier🌞 League 12 0 — 0 0 — — 12 0 Total 67 4 2 1 5 0 6 2 —🌞 80 7 Liverpool 2024–18[193] Premier League 14 0 2 1 — 6[c] 0 — 22 1 2024–19[194] Premier League 38🌞 4 0 0 0 0 12[c] 2 — 50 6 2024–20[195] Premier League 38 5 1 0 0 0 8[c]🌞 0 3[f] 0 50 5 2024–21[196] Premier League 5 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1[g] 0 8 1🌞 2024–22[197] Premier League 34 3 5 0 3 0 9[c] 0 — 51 3 2024–23[198] Premier League 32 3 0🌞 0 0 0 8[c] 0 1[g] 0 41 3 2024–24[199] Premier League 18 1 0 0 1 0 1[e] 0🌞 — 20 1 Total 179 17 8 1 6 0 44 2 5 0 242 20 Career total 384 37🌞 21 6 16 0 77 6 5 0 503 49
International [ edit ]
As of match played 21 November 2024[200]
Appearances and🌞 goals by national team and year National team Year Apps Goals Netherlands 2024 3 0 2024 9 0 2024 4🌞 0 2024 8 3 2024 9 1 2024 5 0 2024 6 1 2024 10 1 2024 10 1 Total🌞 64 7
As of match played 21 November 2024 Netherlands score listed first, score column indicates score after each Van Dijk🌞 goal[200]
Honours [ edit ]
Celtic
Liverpool
Individual
