Fabrizio Romano delivers bad news on Virgil van Dijk contract

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 9 Feb 2025 09:13 GMT
4 min read

Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Fabrizio Romano has delivered bad news on Virgil van Dijk contract's situation, denying that the Dutch centre back has penned a new deal.

Article continues under the video

It was reported earlier this week by Anfield Edition that both Mo Salah and Van Dijk had signed new contracts, putting to an end months of speculation over their futures.

Both Salah and Van Dijk see their contracts expire at the end of the season and Anfield Edition claimed that the duo had signed on for two more years and that the news would soon become official.

No official confirmation has since arrived and Romano has now stated that Van Dijk has not signed a new contract.

He does say, though, that Van Dijk is still in discussions with Liverpool - giving hope to fans that he could yet stay at the club.

What did Romano say about Van Dijk?

“It is true that the agents of Virgil van Dijk were sitting next to the director of football at Liverpool, Richard Hughes, for the game against Tottenham," Romano said on his YouTube channel.

“There is still a very good conversation, a very good relationship between Liverpool and the agents of Virgil van Dijk.

“At the moment, the decision has still not been made. But the conversations continue.”

Van Dijk, who will be 34 in July, has been the captain of the Reds since the 2023/24 season and has been one of the most reliable centre-backs in recent Premier League history.

After a slump in 2022/23, Van Dijk has been back to his best over the past two seasons and a key reason why Liverpool are six points clear of the Premier League this season with a game in hand.

© IMAGO - Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk

Van Dijk at Liverpool

Van Dijk joined Liverpool in an eyebrow-raising €84.7 million deal in January 2018 after a lengthy saga. The previous summer, the Reds had failed to land the Dutchman and publically apologised to Southampton after the Saints had reportedly threatened legal action over the 'tapping-up' of the player.

When he finally arrived at Anfield, Van Dijk made an instant impact and proved a transformative signing, along with goalkeeper Alisson the following summer.

The centre-back and the Brazilian goalkeeper became the heart of a stout defence that would help Liverpool claim the 2019 Champions League and the 2020 Premier League titles.

At Liverpool's zenith under Jurgen Klopp, Van Dijk was widely recognised as the best active defender in the Premier League. In 2018/19, Van Dijk scooped a host of Player of the Year accolades, including the PFA Players' Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Year and UEFA Men's Player of the Year awards.

In addition to Premier League and Champions League honours, the 33-year-old has also won two Carabao Cups, an FA Cup, a Community Shield, a Club World Cup and a UEFA Super Cup with Liverpool.