Van Dijk’s Next Chapter: Retirement Plans Unveiled

The End of an Era: Van Dijk Discusses Retirement

Liverpool Legend and captain, Virgil van Dijk has ruled out a return to the Dutch Eredivisie to end his football career.

The 33-year-old defender began his professional journey with Eredivisie side Groningen before making a move to Scottish club Celtic in 2013.

In an interview with Voetbal International, Van Dijk made it clear that a return to the Netherlands is not part of his 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.”

Virgil van Dijk  began his youth career at Willem II before moving to Groningen, where he made his professional debut in the Eredivisie.

In 2013, Van Dijk moved to Celtic in Scotland, where he won two Scottish Premiership titles and earned a reputation as a strong, ball-playing defender. His performances caught the attention of Premier League clubs, and in 2015, he signed with Southampton.

Van Dijk’s big breakthrough came in January 2018, when he transferred to Liverpool for a then-world-record fee for a defender (£75 million). At Liverpool, he became a key figure in defense, helping the club win the UEFA Champions League (2019), the Premier League (2020), and other major trophies. He also finished second in the Ballon d’Or in 2019.