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#2 Virgil van Dijk (Southampton to Liverpool)
Once in a while, a club signs a player who completely turns their fortunes around. For Liverpool, the signing of Virgil van Dijk in January of 2018, for a then world-record fee for a defender of £75m, would always be mentioned as one of the turning points in their history.
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The Dutchman was the final piece of Jurgen Klopp’s jigsaw puzzle and van Dijk’s emergence in world football since that move has been nothing short of magical. He made the move to Anfield as a promising centre-back but soon turned into one of the best defenders in the world.
The Dutchman had an instant impact after joining the Reds, his commanding presence at the back a clear upgrade from Liverpool’s previous crop of defenders. Van Dijk was also extremely agile and dominant in the air, and brought a sense of calmness at the back. Liverpool was on the rise almost immediately but faced a setback in the final of the UEFA Champions League that season. However, they would not be denied the following year.
In the 2018/19 season, only an unbelievable Manchester City side stopped Liverpool from winning the league. Van Dijk grew in stature with every game and was almost unconquerable at times. The Dutchman ultimately helped his team win the UEFA Champions League by the end of the season.
He was adjudged the UEFA defender of the season as well as the UEFA Player of the Year for 2019. Van Dijk came second behind Lionel Messi in both the 2019 FIFA’s Best Award and the 2019 Ballon d’Or, but he has already shown the world that he is a force to reckon with.
