Virgil van Dijk Spotted Shopping in New York with Wife Rike Nooitgedagt
Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk was seen soaking up the sunshine in New York City on Friday, enjoying a relaxed day out with his glamorous wife, Rike Nooitgedagt. The couple was photographed strolling through the stylish SoHo district, shopping bags in hand from luxury Spanish label Balenciaga.
Dressed casually in a navy t-shirt and shorts, Van Dijk looked laid-back and content, making the most of some well-earned downtime after a whirlwind six months at Liverpool. Since his £75 million transfer from Southampton in January — a move that made him the world’s most expensive defender — Van Dijk has had a significant impact at Anfield.
He was instrumental in Liverpool’s journey to the Champions League final in Kiev, where they faced Real Madrid. Despite Van Dijk’s strong performance, Liverpool fell 3-1, with goalkeeper Loris Karius making costly errors on the night.
With the Netherlands having failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia, Van Dijk has enjoyed an extended summer break. The Dutch national team missed out on a playoff spot after finishing third in their group behind Sweden.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has also been spotted enjoying his time off, vacationing in Ibiza with his wife, Ulla Sandrock. Off the pitch, Klopp has been busy strengthening the squad for the new season — already securing the signing of Brazilian midfielder Fabinho from Monaco.
Van Dijk and Nooitgedagt appeared to be relishing their time in New York, embracing the vibrant atmosphere of the city before the defender returns to pre-season duties. Although Liverpool came close to landing Lyon’s Nabil Fekir for £53 million, the transfer collapsed at the final hurdle.
Liverpool’s pre-season kicks off on July 7 with an away friendly against Chester, even before the World Cup wraps up. Van Dijk is set to rejoin the squad in the U.S. for the International Champions Cup, where Liverpool will take on Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United, and Manchester City.