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Liverpool have announced that Virgil van Dijk has extended his contract with the club.

The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing and I’m so happy."

The defender was in the final few months of his contract on Merseyside prior to today’s announcement, but he has opted to snub offers from elsewhere – notably the Saudi Pro League – to follow in the footsteps of Mohamed Salah and commit his future to Liverpool’s project.

Van Dijk continued: "It always felt right.

It is the place for me to be, to spend my best years, be successful with the club as we have been over the years and hopefully the future as well.

"And I love the city, I love the club, I love the fans.

I love everything that embodies Liverpool, and on to many more.

"It is an emotional day, not only for myself but for my family as well.

My kids are also almost like Scousers, they don't know anything else than Liverpool, especially my two youngest.

"You live your life away from obviously where I'm from in Holland and you are living a very good life, a blessed life, but we live also that good life because of the people of Liverpool, the club, the fans.

So it's a togetherness that I really, really appreciate.

"It helps me and also is what embodies me as well, that I really love how the club is in general, what it stands for and these principles and values are really important to me and my family as well."