Virgil van Dijk could leave Liverpool at the end of the 2026/27 season, with the club yet to offer its captain and long-serving defender a new contract and Real Madrid reportedly considering a short-term deal for the Dutchman.
Van Dijk will turn 36 at the start of the 2027/28 campaign. His possible departure would mark a significant change at Anfield, although Liverpool’s recent decision to part company with Mohamed Salah underlines the principle that no individual is bigger than the club.
Players eventually move on, while the institution continues. However, few Liverpool players in recent years have had Van Dijk’s authority, consistency and influence in leading the side.
His absence would be particularly significant because Liverpool do not appear to have an obvious replacement for the defensive and leadership qualities he provides.
Reports in Spain have suggested Real Madrid could offer Van Dijk a short-term contract if he becomes a free agent. It remains unclear whether that prospect would appeal to the player, although a move could reunite him with former central defensive partner Ibrahima Konate.
Jose Mourinho is not a manager known for signing players without a purpose. If he believes Van Dijk can still contribute, though, the Portuguese would not turn down the opportunity to acquire an experienced defender without a transfer fee.
Van Dijk’s importance to Liverpool is reflected in his workload since the beginning of the 2025/26 season. No player has started more than his 61 matches in that period, while only Alexis Mac Allister has featured in more games, with 62.
The defender has played 5,481 minutes, more than any other Liverpool squad member. That level of availability, particularly at his age, highlights his continued reliability.
Van Dijk has also scored eight goals during the same period. Only Cody Gakpo, Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike have scored more for Liverpool.
He has been involved in 19 of the 61 matches in which Liverpool kept a clean sheet. No other player has been part of a Liverpool side that prevented the opposition from scoring more often since the start of 25/26.
His defensive numbers are similarly dominant. Van Dijk has made 272 headed clearances and 396 clearances overall, both comfortably more than any of his team-mates.
Although his 34 attempted tackles are fewer than those of several colleagues, he has won 61.76 per cent of them, one of the highest success rates in the squad. He has regained possession 165 times, including 77 recoveries in the middle third of the pitch.
Van Dijk has won 299 of his 418 one-on-one duels, giving him a success rate of 71.53 per cent, well ahead of his team-mates. His 323 aerial duels and 243 victories in them are also squad highs.
He is the only Liverpool player to have attempted more than 4,000 passes, completing 3,926 of 4,396 for an 89.31 per cent accuracy rate. One or two players have marginally better percentages, but they have attempted about 2,000 fewer passes.
The statistics suggest that age has not diminished Van Dijk’s competitive edge. Despite appearing to have lost some pace, he has continued to perform at the highest level without relying on speed.
Andoni Iraola and the Liverpool board therefore face a difficult decision before allowing the captain to leave. “You don't know what you've got until you lose it” may prove an accurate warning, with Real Madrid potentially set to benefit.