Virgil van Dijk has been named in the PFA team of the year for 2024 and is the only Liverpool player to make the cut.

The Dutchman is amongst an array of Manchester City and Arsenal stars and joins Ollie Watkins as the only two players to have made it into the team from teams outside of last season’s top two.

PFA Team of the Year 2024: David Raya, Kyle Walker, Virgil van Dijk, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice, Rodri, Martin Odegaard, Phil Foden, Ollie Watkins and Erling Haaland.

Van Dijk again was a talismanic figure at the heart of Liverpool’s defence in Jurgen Klopp’s final year at the helm. The value of the Dutchman’s leadership was shown in abundance when his glancing header in the dying embers of the Carabao Cup sent the travelling Kop into scenes of jubilation at Wembley as an injury stricken Liverpool side sunk Chelsea.

Last season the centre back made 36 Premier League appearances for the Reds scoring two goals as he guided Liverpool to a third place finish bringing Champions League football back to Anfield this season.

The defender, who paid a then-record £75 million to join Liverpool in 2018, has been inducted into his fourth PFA team of the year, demonstrating just how incredible the Dutchman has become since coming to Merseyside. After succeeding Jordan Henderson as Liverpool’s captain last summer, Van Dijk will be looking to lead his team to more major awards this season. He has already won one Carabao Cup.