VAN DIJK

Van Dijk commonly uses only his first name on the kit. According to his uncle Steven, this is because of a family feud with his father, who abandoned his family during van Dijk's childhood. Van Dijk met his wife Rike Nooitgedagt in 2011 when he was 20 and they have been married since the summer of 2017. The couple's first child was born 2014, they now have four children. In September 2025, a stand at Sportpark Prinsenhoeve, the home ground of the youth team of van Dijk's former club Willem II, was renamed the Virgil van Dijk Tribune in his honour. The club described it as "a sign of appreciation for the career of the former Willem II youth player, who grew into one of the best defenders in the world", as well as a gesture "to permanently inspire new generations of youth players."

Personal life Virgil van Dijk married his longtime partner, Rike Nooitgedagt, in 2017 after the couple met as teenagers in their hometown of Breda, Netherlands. [68] [69] They have two children: daughters Nila, born in 2014, and Jadi, born in 2016, with the family prioritizing privacy amid van Dijk's rising fame. [69] Since joining Liverpool in 2018, van Dijk and his family have resided in a luxurious £4 million mansion in the Liverpool area, featuring amenities like an indoor pool, cinema room, gym, and extensive grounds. [70] [71] Reflecting his Dutch-Surinamese heritage—his mother is Surinamese—he maintains ties to his roots through family visits to Suriname. [10] Beyond football, van Dijk has developed a keen interest in fashion, often praised for his stylish off-pitch appearances and …