Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk reveals if he will leave Anfield next summer

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Liverpool have a number of players with contracts expiring next year, with Virgil van Dijk’s deal in need of being resolved.

The Anfield captain, alongside Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, is currently set to leave Merseyside as a free-agent if Liverpool fail to agree new terms with Van Dijk heading into next summer.

Given how key the captain is for the Reds, Liverpool cannot afford to allow the Dutch international to leave for nothing, with Van Dijk already attracting interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia.

And the defender has now revealed if he will actually leave Anfield next summer.

Van Dijk says he’s staying at Liverpool beyond this season

Speaking to the press on international duty with the Netherlands, Van Dijk said he wants to remain with the Dutch set-up as well as Liverpool for the next two years heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

As well as leaving Liverpool, rumours had spread that Van Dijk could quit international football with the Netherlands after Euro 2024, yet the defender has now seemingly committed his future to club and country.

READ MORE: Everything to know on Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk from his tattoo to net worth

Van Dijk said when asked about his future for both Liverpool and the Netherlands: “At both teams, I am still Virgil, the big leader, and I certainly want to remain that for the next two years.

“I am human, I have emotions too. You start thinking all kinds of things, especially just after a game like the elimination (by England) in the last minute.”

Van Dijk needs to sign new Liverpool contract as soon as possible

Van Dijk is arguably one of Liverpool’s most important players in the club’s recent history, with the defender a key reason why the Reds are now as good as they are and why Jurgen Klopp enjoyed as much success as he did.

And with the centre-back’s contract coming to an end, Liverpool need to be doing all they can to sign Van Dijk down to new terms as soon as possible, ideally before the start of 2025.

Interest around Van Dijk is building with the Liverpool captain still one of the best in the world in his position, and Liverpool need to ensure that they can keep hold of the former Southampton star for a few more years.