Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk, has been named the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year ahead of Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Sergio Aguero, Sadio Mane and Eden Hazard.
The twenty-seven-year-old (27) central back who has been an integral part of Liverpool title charge this season and their run to the semi-finals of the champions league was named the PFA player of the year, while "pundit" favourite Raheem Sterling emerged winner as the PFA young player of the year. This year PFA award feature both male and female winners from the Netherlands. Van Dijk triumphed at the male category, while Vivianne Miedema, emerges winner of the female category of the award.
Van Dijk became the second player for the reds in two years to claim the accolade after succeeding Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah, who won the 2017-18 awards and is the first defender to take the award since Chelsea centre-back John Terry in 2005. The 27-year-old player was signed in January 2018 from Southampton for a world record fee for a defender at £75m, the Netherlands international has been a rock at the heart of the Reds' defense.
Liverpool has kept 19 clean sheets from the 36 league games in which Van Dijk has played this season, 28 of which they have won. He has also contributed three goals and two assists during the campaign.
"It's the highest honour you can get as a player to get voted player of the year by the players you play against every week," said Van Dijk.
"It's special. I'm very proud and honoured to receive it."
