Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has decided to leave: report

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has decided to call time on his Reds career after seven years on Merseyside.

That's according to an incendiary new report, saying that the 33-year-old – ranked at no.1 in FourFourTwo's list of the best centre-backs in the world right now – has decided to depart Anfield on a free transfer.

The “lack of recent success” at Liverpool has affected Virgil van Dijk's decision to leave

Mohamed Salah looks dejected after the team's defeat in the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. — Liverpool were beaten in the League Cup final (Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Since joining Liverpool for around £75 million, Van Dijk has won every trophy available at Anfield – and won the PFA Player of the Year in 2019 in what many to be one of the greatest individual seasons from a defender in English football ever.

Despite now being 33, however, he's still been the outstanding centre-back in the Premier League this term and was thought to be the most simple of Liverpool's contract renewals, with Trent Alexander-Arnold almost certainly joining Real Madrid and Mohamed Salah receiving contract offers from Saudi Arabia.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk celebrates with teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold after scoring in the Premier League match against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on 28 October, 2024 — Van Dijk isn't the only Red out of contract in June (Image credit: Alamy)

Now, Spanish outlet Fichajes has produced an extraordinary report to claim that Van Dijk has “decided to end his time” in the Premier League and leave on a Bosman.

The report states that Paris Saint-Germain are interested in the star becoming the rock of their impressive new project. Apparently, “elimination from the Champions League and defeat in the Carabao Cup final have led Van Dijk to look to new horizons”.

FourFourTwo understands, however, that Ibrahima Konate is a more serious target for PSG, with the Frenchman younger and homegrown.

Van Dijk is yet to sign a pre-agreement with an overseas club – but defeats this season are unlikely to have swayed his thinking. It's far more likely that he'll be looking to the future, and in FourFourTwo's view, the Dutchman is still the most likely star to stay.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot will not be in the dugout for his side's clash with Newcastle this evening — Liverpool manager Arne Slot faces losing three faces this summer (Image credit: Getty Images)

As a leader in Arne Slot's side, Van Dijk's continuity is crucial in a summer in which the likes of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Andy Robertson and Konate have also been linked with exits. Still, the longer than uncertainty hangs over the defender's future, the more likely a departure appears to be.

Van Dijk is worth €28m, according to Transfermarkt. Liverpool take on Everton in the Merseyside Derby on April 2, when Premier League action returns.

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Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.