I Played for Liverpool - Chelsea Should Have Signed Virgil van Dijk Last Summer

A former Liverpool player has urged Chelsea to regret not signing Virgil van Dijk last summer, highlighting how the Dutch defender transformed the Reds' defense after his record-breaking move from Southampton.[1][2]

The article features insights from an ex-Liverpool star who experienced the club's defensive struggles firsthand before Van Dijk's arrival in January 2018. Liverpool agreed a then-world-record £75 million deal for the towering center-back, making him the most expensive defender in history at the time. This fee shattered previous benchmarks, surpassing even Rio Ferdinand's £30 million move to Manchester United, and eclipsed later transfers like Harry Maguire's £80 million to Manchester United.[1][2][4][5]

Van Dijk's impact was immediate and profound. Prior to his debut in the 2017-18 season, Liverpool had conceded 28 goals in 23 Premier League games. In the 14 of the final 15 matches he played, they shipped just 10. The following season, with Van Dijk anchoring the backline, Liverpool boasted the league's best defensive record, conceding only 22 goals across 38 games. He started every match, completing 90 minutes in all but one.[5]

The former player argues Chelsea, who showed strong interest in Van Dijk during the 2017 summer window alongside Manchester City and Liverpool, missed a golden opportunity. Liverpool's illicit approach led to a public apology to Southampton, but they ultimately secured him after he handed in a transfer request. Van Dijk handed in a transfer request. Southampton confirmed the world-record fee, wishing him well.[1][2]

Since joining, Van Dijk has been pivotal in Liverpool's success, including back-to-back Champions League finals and a triumphant win over Tottenham. He wore the No. 4 shirt, posted an excited Instagram message about joining "one of the biggest clubs in world football," and proved the fee "wasn't a big issue," per his own words, by delivering trophy-winning performances. Jamie Carragher endorsed the spend, citing Ferdinand's value.[1][5]

The ex-Liverpool man contrasts Chelsea's ongoing defensive woes with what Van Dijk could have provided, insisting they "should have signed" him last summer instead of pursuing other targets. His journey—from Groningen and Celtic to Southampton (£13m in 2015), then Liverpool—underscores his elite pedigree. Chelsea's hesitation, amid tapping-up drama, cost them a game-changer who elevated Liverpool to title contenders.[2][3]

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