Van Dijk hopes to appear against Norwich to celebrate the extension of his contract with Liverpool

Van Dijk extended his contract with Liverpool until 2025. Reuters

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk hopes to celebrate the signing of his new contract with the team by starting today against Norwich City in his first match since last October.

And the British news agency “BA Media” reported that Dutch captain Van Dijk (30 years), who joined Liverpool in December 2017, for 75 million pounds ($ 103.5 million), has extended his contract with the club until 2025.

Van Dyck did not participate in any official matches for 10 months after his season ended after he injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the intervention of Jordan Pickford, the Everton goalkeeper, with him strongly in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

But after he completed rehab and played three friendlies, his 70-minute run against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday gave the biggest indication that he is ready to come back.

"Unfortunately, last season for me was worth forgetting, or learning and benefiting from," Van Dijk told his club's official website.

"I feel ready for the next match, so we will wait for what the coach decides," he added.

"The atmosphere will be very different, and mentally for me as well," he stressed.

And he added, “It is something we are fighting for, for the points, and we hope to get a positive result.”

Van Dijk has been a key player since joining the team and played a major role in the team, which coach Jurgen Klopp led, to winning the Champions League and the English Premier League in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, respectively.

Van Dijk became the fourth senior player in the team to extend his contract in the past two weeks, after Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Alisson Becker.

The club has plans to renew the contracts of players such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson.

"It feels great and that's why I feel at home here," Van Dyck said.

He added, "The new contract is something that makes me proud, and I am very proud of it. My wife and children are proud of it and of course my agency."

"All the great work I've done so far will continue and I'm looking forward to what the future brings me with Liverpool," he said.

I am happy, very happy and proud.”

And Klopp was happy to secure the future of another key player.

"It's great news," he said.

The good thing about his contract extension is that we already know him.”

"It was very difficult last year, but he's back, for sure it's great news," he added.

"Imagine if we had to buy it now," he added.

Thank God we just have to give him a new contract.”

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