Virgil van Dijk (Part 2)

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7 Apr 2024

Virgil van Dijk (Part 2)

On June 21, 2013, Van Dijk completed a transfer to Celtic for a reported fee of approximately £2.6 million, signing a four-year contract that included a 10% sell-on fee for Groningen. He made his debut for Celtic on August 17, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 Scottish Premiership victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie Stadium. A week later, he earned his first start in a 2–2 draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Celtic Park.
Van Dijk scored his first goals for Celtic on November 9, netting twice with headers in a 4–1 win against Ross County. He showcased his ability again on December 26, scoring the only goal of the match in a victory over St Johnstone with a solo run.

Continuing his impressive form, Van Dijk scored another goal on January 26, 2014, contributing to Celtic's 4–0 win against Hibernian, which marked the team's 11th consecutive league victory. However, his performance took a turn on February 25 when he was sent off after just 13 minutes in a 2–1 loss to Aberdeen for a professional foul on Peter Pawlett. This defeat was Celtic's first of the season.
Despite the setback, Van Dijk remained influential for Celtic, scoring again on May 7 to help his team secure a 3–3 draw away to St Johnstone. His consistent performances earned him recognition, with Van Dijk being named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year alongside two of his Celtic teammates. Additionally, he was nominated for the PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year award, although the honor ultimately went to Kris Commons, another player from Celtic.

Van Dijk displayed his scoring prowess in a UEFA Champions League qualifier against KR, netting twice in a 4–0 home victory alongside Teemu Pukki, securing their team's progression to the next round with a 5–0 aggregate score.
Continuing his goal-scoring form, Van Dijk scored his first Premiership goal of the season on November 9, securing a last-minute winner in a 2–1 away victory against Aberdeen. Just three weeks later, he was instrumental in Celtic's 4–0 triumph over Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Cup fourth round, scoring both the opening and final goals of the match. Van Dijk continued to impress, adding another goal to his tally in a home match against Glasgow neighbors Partick Thistle.

Van Dijk found the net again on January 21, 2015, opening the scoring in a 4–0 home victory against Motherwell. However, his disciplinary issues surfaced as he was sent off in the 36th minute of Celtic's UEFA Europa League clash against Inter Milan on February 26, following a foul on Mauro Icardi. This setback was followed by another sending off on March 8 during the Cup quarter-final against Dundee United, resulting in a red card after just eleven minutes of play.
Despite his suspensions, Van Dijk played a crucial role in Celtic's Scottish League Cup final victory, contributing to a 2–0 win. His scoring prowess continued, with a last-minute goal in a Cup replay against Dundee United. However, Celtic's treble hopes were dashed in the Cup semi-final against Inverness, where despite Van Dijk's opening goal from a free kick, they were defeated 3–2. Nevertheless, Van Dijk maintained his consistency and was recognized with inclusion in the league's Team of the Season for the second consecutive year.
Following Celtic's elimination from the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, Van Dijk was reportedly contemplating his future with the club.

Virgil van Dijk made a significant move to the Premier League, signing a five-year contract with Southampton on the final day of the transfer window. Managed by Ronald Koeman at the time, Southampton secured the Dutch defender's services for a reported transfer fee of £13 million. Notably, other Premier League clubs including Sunderland, Newcastle, and Arsenal were also reportedly interested in acquiring him during the last hours of the transfer window. Van Dijk's transfer marked him as the most expensive Dutch defender since Jaap Stam's move from Manchester United to Lazio in 2001 for over €25 million.

Van Dijk made his debut for Southampton on September 12, 2015, in a goalless draw against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. Just two weeks later, he showcased his scoring ability by netting his first goal for the club with a powerful header in the 11th minute against Swansea City, helping Southampton secure a 3–1 victory at home.
His impactful performances earned him recognition from both his teammates and Southampton fans, who named him the Player of the Year for his contributions in his debut season. On May 7, 2016, Van Dijk further solidified his commitment to Southampton by signing a new six-year contract with the club.

On January 22, 2017, Virgil van Dijk took on the role of captain for Southampton following the departure of José Fonte. However, on the same day, he suffered an unfortunate setback as he sustained an ankle injury during a match against Leicester City. This injury ultimately ruled him out of participation in the 2017 EFL Cup final, where Southampton faced Manchester United and were defeated at Wembley Stadium.
Despite the injury setback, Van Dijk's performances during the 2016–17 season caught the attention of several top English clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool. Reports circulated regarding the interest of these clubs in acquiring the talented defender. Of particular note, Liverpool's pursuit of Van Dijk led to controversy, as the club issued an apology to Southampton for an alleged illegal approach for the player. Van Dijk himself expressed a desire to join Liverpool, prompting speculation about a potential transfer.

Van Dijk took a significant step in his desire for a move by handing in a transfer request to Southampton. Alongside this request, he released a statement reiterating his wish to pursue opportunities at a different club during the transfer window.
Following the events surrounding his desired transfer, Virgil van Dijk remained with Southampton at the beginning of the 2017–18 season. After recovering from his ankle injury sustained earlier in the year, he made his first appearance since January as a late substitute in Southampton's 1–0 victory against Crystal Palace on September 26, 2017.

However, Van Dijk's time with Southampton was drawing to a close. His final appearance for the club came on December 13, 2017, in a 4–1 home defeat to Leicester City. This match also marked his last inclusion in any of Southampton's matchday squads. In light of ongoing speculation surrounding his future and amid heightened transfer rumors, Van Dijk was subsequently omitted from the squad for the remainder of his tenure at Southampton.