Photo: Timmy96 / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons
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Virgil van Dijk made a phone call to Steven Gerrard in late 2017 while weighing up a move to Liverpool or Manchester City, a conversation the defender has since described as “massive” in his decision-making.
The exchange has been revealed in Captains, a new LFC Original production featuring Gerrard, Van Dijk and Graeme Souness in conversation together.
“He phoned me at the time actually,” Gerrard recalls in the programme. “It was City, Liverpool. He said to me, ‘I haven’t phoned you to sort of push me one way or the other, because I know which way you’re going to push me. But just tell me a little bit about Liverpool?'”
Gerrard told Van Dijk he likely already knew the answer to his own question. “I was so happy that he chose us,” the former Liverpool captain added.
Van Dijk confirmed the conversation left a strong impression. “Obviously yourself and Hendo were very important for me, together with Jürgen. For me to speak to you, it was already massive. That feeling of, like, I wanted to play for this club so badly, it was so intense.”
Van Dijk sealed his transfer from Southampton on New Year’s Day 2018. He has since made 374 appearances, scored 36 goals, and collected eight major honours including two Premier League titles and a Champions League. He has captained the club permanently since 2023.