The Colossus at the Back
At Anfield, where the Kop roars and history whispers through every corridor, the number 4 shirt carries weight. Today, it belongs to Virgil van Dijk – the Dutch colossus who transformed Liverpool from nearly-men into champions of England, Europe, and the world.
On 17 April 2025, Van Dijk signed a new contract extending his stay at the club until 2027. Liverpool celebrated by offering fans free shirt printing with 'Virgil – 4' on 2024-25 jerseys. It was a gesture that recognised what everyone already knew: this shirt, this number, belongs to him now.
A £75 Million Answer
When Liverpool paid Southampton £75 million for Van Dijk in January 2018, it made him the world's most expensive defender. Sceptics questioned the fee. Within eighteen months, he had won the Champions League, finished runner-up for the Ballon d'Or, and made Liverpool's defence the most formidable in Europe.
The 2018-19 season saw Liverpool concede just 22 goals in the Premier League – the best defensive record in the division. Van Dijk missed not a single minute of league football, an immovable presence at the heart of everything Jürgen Klopp built.
The Legacy of the Number 4
Van Dijk inherited the shirt from a lineage of Liverpool defenders who defined their eras. Sami Hyypiä wore it for a decade, providing the backbone of Gérard Houllier's treble-winning side. Before him, Phil Thompson captained the club to European glory.
The No.4 has always been associated with leadership at Anfield. Thompson led by example in the 1970s and 80s. Hyypiä brought Scandinavian calm to the 2000s. Van Dijk has combined the best of both – the authority of Thompson, the composure of Hyypiä, and a physical presence that neither could match.
The Captain's Armband
Van Dijk's importance extends beyond the numbers. Since taking the captaincy, he has guided Liverpool to Premier League titles in 2019-20 and 2024-25, collecting an FA Cup, two League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup along the way.
At 33, he shows no signs of declining. The new contract, worth a reported £350,000 per week, makes him the third-highest-paid defender in world football. For Liverpool, it is money well spent on the man who wears the number 4 with distinction.
