Liverpool’s masterpiece: Van Dijk, even at 34, the highest-paid defender on the planet

The Dutch centre-back also extends contract with the Reds after Mohamed Salah

Everything becomes easier with a title, and it has once again begun to smell of success at Anfield. Just as Manchester City seemed set to monopolize trophies, having won four on the trot, Liverpool woke up: perhaps polish off another piece for their trophy cabinet, but much more did they manage to convince their most deserving key players that the best days are still coming with the Reds. And so, after Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk has now also extended his contract with the Arne Slot team until summer 2027.

A proud moment for the Reds after the fear in the fan base all season about one or all of these three players leaving-Jurgen Klopp having brought the famous club back to winning its first English league title in 30 years with the help of these men. Will keep two of the three, the last being Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has long been rumored to move to Real Madrid.

Spot on: there was talk of Salah weighing anchor and leaving too, but he stayed. Van Dijk was the least troublesome; from the first moment, he made it very clear that he was not keen on going. It needed just an agreement to be reached. According to The Athletic, the parties eventually struck a deal in which no clause would be included for exiting without the salary reduction’s approval or possible increases. Van Dijk is currently estimated to be earning about £400,000 per week (approximately €460,000), which translates to about £20,800,000 per year or almost €24,000,000. Gross, of course.

And with Van Dijk, Europe’s highest-paid defender is going to stay that way. After all, he was brought in that way after Liverpool bought him in January 2018 for €84,650,000, making him the most expensive centre-back in football history at the time. Since then, Harry Maguire and Joško Gvardiol have both surpassed that fee, but of the former, there is no possibility ever of comparison with Van Dijk, while the latter has a really long way to go even to be mentioned in the same breath.

While most of Van Dijk’s compensation is guaranteed, a small portion will depend on club performance rather than personal results.

“There are too many boiling feelings in my head as I talk about it. A feeling of pride. A feeling of joy. Incredible… Liverpool has always been my choice. It was always my plan. There was no doubt in my mind. This is the place for me. Someone called me an adopted Scouser the other day. I was proud when I heard that,” said Van Dijk, who will soon turn 34 in July.

But even at that advanced age, few can match him. After all, in this season he played every minute of every Premier League game, and that speaks volumes about Van Dijk’s qualities.