Van Dijk and Liverpool face contract decision as talks may run into 2027

Virgil van Dijk’s Liverpool contract expires next summer, and the club and its captain face a decision over whether he stays beyond it. The 35-year-old says he is not in a hurry, while BBC Sport expects any talks to take time and potentially continue into 2027.

“Let’s see what the season brings,” Van Dijk told reporters this week. “I’ve had an amazing time already so far. If that will be extended, that’s the case. If not, then I will go somewhere else.”

He was in a similar position two seasons ago and signed a two-year deal in April 2025. BBC Sport says his recent comments suggest he would like to stay, but no resolution is expected soon.

Van Dijk has played every minute of Liverpool’s Premier League campaign since the start of last season. A minor “niggle” has affected him in recent weeks, but the BBC reports it is not a major concern. The captain has also missed this Netherlands international window, his first absence from one since Euro 2020.

Liverpool would lose experience and leadership if he left, despite having younger centre-backs including Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni. Joe Gomez is also out of contract this summer, while Liverpool have an option to buy Ronald Araújo from Barcelona at the end of the season.

Van Dijk will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club from January. BBC Sport says AC Milan and Juventus are monitoring his situation, while sources in Turkey are hopeful of attracting him if he does not extend his Liverpool deal. The report says a move away this summer would be a surprise.