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Liverpool fans got their Easter Weekend off to a great start after Virgil van Dijk officially penned a contract extension at Anfield – with the official announcement coming on Thursday morning.

Van Dijk’s new terms, running through June 2027, break from conventional wisdom for aging centre-backs.

At 33, he becomes the oldest outfield player in Premier League history to sign a multi-year extension without a salary reduction.

The absence of performance-related pay cuts or release clauses underscores Liverpool’s faith in his physical durability and leadership value.

There was plenty of discourse around whether the club and FSG would offer new terms to someone who will be 34 by the start of next season.

However, the delay can also be explained by Edwards’ return as FSG’s CEO of football and Hughes’ appointment as sporting director, which created procedural delays.

Van Dijk’s agent Neil Fewings (ROOF Agency) required assurances about the new hierarchy’s ambitions.

But thankfully, Reds fans do not have to worry about this contract dilemma bothering them any longer.

Van Dijk will now look to continue his world-class level for a while longer, but he has certainly not forgotten who has helped him get to this point.

Speaking to liverpoolfc.com in the immediate wake of his contract announcement, the skipper was quizzed on how much influence Arne Slot had on him remaining at Anfield for the foreseeable future.

He poured praise on the Dutchman but made sure to praise Klopp for the decision he made to make him captain in the German’s final campaign as Liverpool boss:

“We shouldn’t skip too quickly [over] what Jürgen [Klopp] obviously did over the years for me and my family, because obviously he gave me the opportunity to be the captain of Liverpool,” Van Dijk said.

“To make also that next step in terms of responsibility, that I always felt, but to be the captain of Liverpool is a big responsibility and obviously I took it with stride, I really enjoyed it and I don’t take any of that for granted.”

He added on Arne Slot:

“In terms of this season, you’re coming in and I knew the manager from playing against him a couple of times but didn’t really have a personal relationship with him, so it was always going to be an interesting one, ‘Let’s see how it goes.’

“For him as well, of course.

I think he has an amazing season so far, in terms of also knowing he didn’t have time to really have a proper pre-season.”

What really stands out for me is the way he handles good and difficult moments as well, because throughout the season there are difficult moments.

“Even when we won quite a lot of games there are also moments that you have to manage behind the scenes in terms of how you have to handle certain players if they’re not playing, disappointments.”

“And the way he conducts himself, not only him but the staff as well, has really been a good thing to see and also gave me a lot of confidence towards what the next two years could look like?

Big credit to him.”

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