Virgil van Dijk continues to hold the title of Europe’s highest-paid defender following the signing of his new contract with Liverpool, according to a recent report.Discussions regarding new terms for Van Dijk and fellow Liverpool player Mohamed Salah extended until April, just months before their previous contracts were set to expire.
Reports indicated that the club had reservations about committing substantial funds to two players approaching the latter stages of their careers.
Ultimately, both players secured favorable agreements, with Salah, who will turn 33 in June, signing a new contract reportedly worth £380,000 per week.
Van Dijk, who will celebrate his 34th birthday in July, subsequently signed a two-year contract of his own.
As reported by The Athletic, Van Dijk’s contract is standard, lacking any break or release clauses, and he has not experienced a decrease in his salary.
His earnings are estimated to be close to £400,000 per week, solidifying his position as the highest-earning defender in Europe.
Most of this salary is believed to be guaranteed, with performance incentives tied to the team’s success rather than Van Dijk’s individual accomplishments.
It is emphasized that negotiations between Liverpool and Van Dijk remained constructive, with both sides working collaboratively towards a resolution, albeit one that took longer than anticipated.
Significant changes behind the scenes, including the appointment of sporting director Richard Hughes and Jurgen Klopp’s exit as manager, contributed to the delay in reaching an agreement.
However, all parties recognized the importance of patience during these complex negotiations.
Liverpool is relieved to have secured new contracts for both Salah and Van Dijk, but concerns persist regarding right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is reportedly in talks to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Nevertheless, manager Arne Slot has recently stated that no final decisions have been made.