Virgil van Dijk is in the final season of the two-year extension he signed in April 2025, and Liverpool have not yet initiated talks over a new agreement. At 35, he remains central to the side, but the delay has already pulled Real Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus into the conversation.
Liverpool's contract delay
Pete O’Rourke, quoted by teamtalk.com, said: “A lot depends on what happens with Van Dijk’s contract situation.
“He still has a role to play for Liverpool.
“He’s still playing every week and he is the club captain as well, so I think Van Dijk is probably the master of his own destiny here.”
That is the core of the story. Virgil van Dijk has made 5 Premier League appearances this season, logged 450 minutes and carries a 7.21 rating. His most recent Liverpool match, the win at Bournemouth, brought a 7.78 rating, so the level is still there for Liverpool.
Real Madrid and the free-transfer race
Emile Heskey said on goal.com: “When certain clubs come calling they turn your head whether you’re under contract or not, and Real Madrid is one of them.” He added that he would be surprised if Van Dijk’s head was not turned.
That interest is not isolated. Reporting around the defender has also linked Juventus with scouting him during the international break, while AC Milan remain among the clubs watching closely. Real Madrid are the most obvious danger because the Spanish club is already being reported as planning a free-transfer move next summer.
Liverpool still have the strongest claim on the situation because Van Dijk is under contract for this season, but the longer talks stay shut, the more this starts to look like a fight the club should have opened earlier. A captain in form, a deal running down and Europe’s biggest buyers circling is not a comfortable mix for anyone at Anfield.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
