Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk is the Premier League's greatest centre-back of all-time, says Vincent Kompany

Virgil van Dijk has transformed Liverpool's defence since his £75million switch in 2017
Action Images via Reuters
Matt Davies11 May 2020

Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany believes Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is the best centre-back to have ever played in the Premier League.

After making 80 appearances in a standout spell with Southampton, van Dijk moved to Liverpool in 2017 for £75 million in what was at the time a world-record transfer for a defender.

The Dutchman's price tag, which at the time certainly raised a few eyebrows, has since been vindicated and the 28-year-old has been credited as the key in Liverpool's recent success, winning the Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup.

Liverpool are also on the verge of their first Premier League title, a campaign of which van Dijk has again been instrumental as the Reds opened up a seemingly unassailable 25-point gap.

And Kompany, who himself is regarded as one of the all-time Premier League greats, believes van Dijk has now overtaken the likes of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

Of his decision, Kompany told Sporf: “I would bring it back to Virgil van Dijk.

“And it’s a weird one because he hasn’t been on the scene for as long as these names we mentioned, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, these guys were there for a long, long time.

“But the signs he showed in his last few years just make it so obvious that if he would’ve been at the top, top level before that, he would’ve been already further as well.

“And from what I’ve seen in terms of having an impact on the team, and a defender is never about himself, it’s about his communication with other guys and how you make your team more solid.

“And the Liverpool before Van Dijk and the one after him, it’s a completely different setup, and I’ll give him that one because of that.”

With Terry making over 700 club appearances and winning 17 trophies with Chelsea, and Ferdinand clocking up 680 club appearances and winning 18 trophies with United, Kompany's claim is certainly a bold one.

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