Van Dijk 'not in any panic' as Liverpool contract talks yet to begin

Virgil van Dijk has said he is “not in any panic” about his Liverpool future, with his contract set to expire in June 2026 and no talks yet held on a potential extension.

The Dutch centre-back, who has captained Liverpool since July 2023, addressed the situation after the club’s 3-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace. “I want to keep playing and continue what I’m doing so let’s see what the season brings,” he said. “I’ve had an amazing time already so far. If that will be extended, that’s the case. If not, then I will go somewhere else. There’s nothing to report at the moment but that doesn’t mean that there’s any stress or anything. I’m not in any panic whatsoever.”

Van Dijk joined Liverpool in 2018 and has previous form for resolving his contract situation late. In April 2025 he signed a two-year extension when his deal had been due to expire that summer, with reported interest from other clubs failing to lure him away from Anfield at the time.

The 35-year-old has started every Premier League minute for Liverpool this season, continuing a record-breaking run of availability. Last season he became the oldest outfield player to play every minute of a Premier League campaign in the competition’s history, surpassing John Terry’s mark.

Despite his on-field consistency, Van Dijk has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad for November’s Nations League fixtures after managing a minor physical complaint. “Mentally I’m in a good place, physically I’ve been struggling with a little niggle the last couple of weeks but I do everything in my power to be out there,” he said.

Liverpool head into the international break sitting fourth in the Premier League and eighth in the Champions League table.