Virgil van Dijk signs new 6-year contract with Southampton

Virgil van Dijk, 24, will be staying put at St Mary's for the foreseeable future.

Southampton announced Saturday that the Dutch international has penned a new six-year agreement with the club, extending his contract until 2022.

Van Dijk, who arrived at the Premier League side from Scottish powerhouse Celtic ahead of the season, has been ever-present for manager Ronald Koeman, making 36 appearances in all competitions and forming a sturdy partnership with captain Jose Fonte in central defence.

"The club is growing and I definitely want to grow with them, that’s how I feel. Hopefully we can make it happen," Van Dijk said of the motivation behind signing the new deal.

Southampton executive director Les Reed was overjoyed with the announcement:

"In his first year with the club, Virgil has quickly established himself as one of the top centre-backs in the Premier League, becoming an integral part of what has been another strong season for the team.

"At 24, and with significant European experience already under his belt, we believe he can be a key pillar in our squad for years to come, and we are delighted to have agreed this new deal with him."