From being a very highly-rated defender at Celtic Park and St. Mary’s, Virgil van Dijk has been a player transformed since his arrival at Anfield.
This season has been no different as Liverpool have only conceded 22 goals, while they have added a Super Cup and Club World Cup to their trophy cabinet.
They are also in line to lift their first League title in 30 years and that is thanks to, in no small part, Virgil van Dijk. Those performances have seen his transfer value grow exponentially.
In a recent report by KPMG Football Benchmark, the Liverpool man-mountain was valued at € 115 million, making him the highest-valued defender in the world.
At €86 million, next on the list is Van Dijk’s compatriot and Juventus teenager Matthijs de Ligt.
French duo Raphael Varane and Aymeric Laporte come in 3rd and 5th, with values of €83 million and €76 million, respectively.
What is surprising about the list is the fact that Manchester United captain Harry Maguire, currently the most expensive defender, is valued at €73 million, which leaves him on 4th in the list.
This list just shows how far ahead Van Dijk is in the race for the best centre-back on the planet and he is not likely to fall behind any time soon.