Virgil van Dijk is one of the talismans at Liverpool and took over as the Reds’ captain in July 2023, so here is everything you need to know about his life outside of football.
The Merseyside natives awarded Van Dijk their captain’s armband following the transfer of Jordan Henderson to the Saudi Arabian squad, Al-Ettifaq. He became only the third captain Liverpool had named since Steven Gerrard took up the role in 2003 and Henderson in 2015.
Van Dijk proved himself to be a worthy leader under Jurgen Klopp during his first five years at Anfield. The Reds raided Southampton to agree on the Dutchman’s transfer in December 2017. He quit the Saints as the world’s most expensive defender in January 2018 for £75m.
Liverpool and Van Dijk had initially sought to get his transfer over the line in the summer of 2017. But he proved to be worth the wait as Van Dijk transformed the Merseyside natives’ defensive strength. He was one of the best centre-backs around Europe until his ACL injury.
READ MORE: Every transfer signing that Jurgen Klopp agreed to as the manager of Liverpool
Van Dijk suffered a major knee injury during a Merseyside derby at Everton in October 2020 after colliding with Jordan Pickford. It ruled the defender out for the remainder of the term. He also struggled to recapture the levels Van Dijk set before the injury after he rushed back.
But who really is Van Dijk and what is the Liverpool defender’s life outside of football like? Rousing The Kop has taken a look at everything you need to know about the Reds’ captain…
How old is Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk?
At the time of writing, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is 32 years old. He was born on July 8, 1991 to his parents dad, Ron van Dijk, and mum, Hellen Chin Fo Sieeuw. His dad is Dutch but his mum is of part-Chinese descent via her maternal great-grandfather, Chin Fo Sieeuw.
Where was Virgil van Dijk born?
Virgil van Dijk was born in the municipality and city of Breda, located in the southern part of the Netherlands. It is located in the province of North Brabant and Breda also took its name from the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. Breda also has a population of circa 200,000.
How tall is Virgil van Dijk? What is his height in feet?
Measuring in at 1.95 metres tall, Virgil van Dijk stands at a height of 6 ft 4 in feet.
How much does Virgil van Dijk weigh?
Weighing in at 92 kilograms, Virgil van Dijk weighs 202.8 pounds or 14.5 stone.
Virgil van Dijk has a sleeve tattoo
Virgil van Dijk normally plays in a long-sleeve Liverpool jersey or wears an undershirt which obscures his sleeve tattoo. The defender has a full sleeve on his left arm containing a variety of facets. It includes a clock, a number of roses and an eye but rarely sees the light in public.
Meet Virgil van Dijk’s wife, Rike Nooitgedagt, and daughters, Nila and Jadi
Virgil van Dijk married his wife, Rike Nooitgedagt, in 2017 after dating since the couple were teenagers. They met in their youth as both grew up in Breda. Nooitgedagt even gave up her job as a fashion sales manager to follow Van Dijk to Scotland when he joined Celtic in 2013.
Nooitgedagt strives to live a private life where possible but will often attend events with Van Dijk in support. The couple also have two daughters together. Nooitgedagt gave birth to Van Dijk’s first child, Nila, in 2014 and she later gave birth to their second daughter, Jadi, in 2016.
Virgil van Dijk’s salary at Liverpool
Liverpool handed Van Dijk his most recent contract extension in August 2021, which saw the Dutchman net a salary of £220k-a-week or an £11.4m-a-year wage, according to Capology.
Virgil van Dijk’s net worth
No reputable publication currently discloses an up-to-date valuation for Virgil van Dijk’s net worth. But Essentially Sports cited the defender’s net worth in March 2024 at around $46m (£39m), thanks to his personal sponsorship deals with brands including Heineken and Nike.
