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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has ruled out the possibility of returning to the Dutch Eredivisie to conclude his football career.
The 33-year-old defender began his professional journey with Eredivisie side FC Groningen, having first developed as a youth player at Willem II. Despite his Dutch roots, Van Dijk has no intention of ending his playing days in the Netherlands.
In an interview with Voetbal International, Van Dijk was unequivocal about his future plans:
“I am very clear about that: I will not return to the Netherlands. I started here, and that was very important to me,” he said.
“I am quite proud of my career so far, and I think that finishing in the Eredivisie is not an option.”
Van Dijk made his move from Groningen to Celtic in 2013, where he won two Scottish Premiership titles and established himself as a commanding, ball-playing centre-back. His performances in Scotland attracted the attention of Premier League clubs, and in 2015, he signed with Southampton.
The Dutchman’s career reached new heights in January 2018 when he joined Liverpool for a then-world-record fee for a defender (£75 million). Since then, he has become a central figure in Liverpool’s defense, playing a crucial role in the club’s success, including winning the UEFA Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020. He also finished runner-up in the 2019 Ballon d’Or voting.
