Liverpool’s Van Dijk wins PFA Player in of the Year Award

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk in 2019. Photo by Terry Donnelly/News Images/REX/Shutterstock (10191449bp)

The Dutch native was named Player of the Year by the PFA, England’s Professional Footballer’s Association this Sunday. The 27-year-old defender becomes the fourth Dutch player to win this award. 

Virgil van Dijk has transformed Liverpool’s defense, following his transfer from Southampton in January 2018. The transfer was a record fee of 75 million pounds for van Dijk.

With the help of van Dijk, this season Liverpool was able to keep 19 shots in the Premier League. The team conceded the lowest number of goals in the top flight this season. 

Liverpool will also be playing in the Champions League semi-finals.

Van Dijk said he felt the awarded title was the highest honor that a soccer player could earn, especially as it is voted by the players that he plays against every week. He was at the top of a six-man shortlist, beating Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, and Bernardo Silva, teammate Sadio Mane, and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. The vote included PFA members from 92 PL and Football League clubs. 

Van Dijk was the second Liverpool player to win in a row.