Virgil van Dijk’s journey from a relatively unknown player at Groningen to becoming one of the world’s best defenders is a testament to Celtic’s scouting acumen and their willingness to take calculated risks.
When Celtic signed Van Dijk for £2.6 million in the summer of 2013, they saw potential where others hesitated. The player’s revelation about the hesitancy of the top Dutch clubs—Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV—to take a risk on him opened the door to Celtic.
Van Dijk told The Sun: “Koeman wanted to bring me from Groningen when I was at Feyenoord.
“But they thought I was too expensive at the time.
“When you play for Groningen as a young boy, a step to the top of the Dutch league is logical – it’s the traditional route.
“But the top three clubs, Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV, were not convinced of my qualities.
“So it was Celtic for me. That was the club that did dare to take me on.”
Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV’s apprehension about Van Dijk’s price tag and their subsequent decision not to pursue him reflect the inherent risks clubs perceive when investing in players from smaller leagues or those not yet proven at the highest levels.
Celtic’s decision to sign Van Dijk, on the other hand, demonstrates a different approach, one that involves a deeper level of scouting, faith in player development, and a readiness to provide opportunities to talents overlooked by others. This approach not only benefited Celtic on the pitch, where Van Dijk made a substantial impact but also financially, given his later transfer to Southampton and eventually to Liverpool for a record fee for a defender at the time.
