Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk is the best centre-back the Premier League has seen since the retirement of John Terry, and there are entirely credible arguments that he surpasses even that benchmark. The Dutchman’s arrival at Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018 was the single most transformative transfer in the club’s modern history — a statement that should not be controversial given that Liverpool immediately went on to win the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020. Before Van Dijk, Liverpool had elite attackers and a chronic defensive problem. After Van Dijk, they had the most complete team in Europe.

What makes Van Dijk extraordinary is not merely the physical toolkit — the pace, the aerial dominance, the absurd composure on the ball — but the intelligence that underpins everything. As captain of both Liverpool and the Netherlands, he brings an authority that borders on the monarchical. He reads the game two passes ahead, organises the defence with the precision of an air traffic controller, and steps out with the ball to initiate attacks with the confidence of a playmaker. Even in his thirties, when most defenders begin to decline, Van Dijk continues to perform at a level that embarrasses forwards half his age.

For Australian fans, Van Dijk is simply the standard. Every centre-back in the Premier League is measured against him, and every single one of them comes up short.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

With 230 appearances and 18 goals — a remarkable return for a defender — Van Dijk remains the defensive foundation upon which Arne Slot’s Liverpool is built in the 2025-26 season. The Dutchman’s longevity at the top is not a surprise to anyone who watches him play; it is the inevitable consequence of a player who has always relied on brain as much as body. When Van Dijk eventually retires, Liverpool will discover just how impossible he was to replace. Until then, they should savour every commanding header and every imperious stride forward.

VS — Chief sports columnist, australiafootball.com