Ajax signed me over Virgil van Dijk and then I was RELEASED by Swansea | OneFootball

It would probably be fair to say that Virgil van Dijk’s career trajectory has been a bit of an odd one.

After rising through the ranks of Willem II’s academy in his native Netherlands, he then transferred to FC Groningen where be made his professional debut in 2011. This was followed by a move to Celtic in 2013, Southampton in 2015 and then, finally, Liverpool in 2018.

It was here where he became the best centre-back in the world that we all know and love today. And his next move is currently very up in the air, with the status of his contract that expires at the end of the season seemingly unmoving at the moment.

But, apparently, it could all be different. Hans Nijland, FC Groningen’s manager when Van Dijk departed the club, has revealed that Ajax were in talks for the maverick before he ultimately ended up in Glasgow.

"Virgil was ready for a move. He wanted to go to Ajax or PSV," Nijland said on a recent edition of ESPN Tekengeld. "I had a discussion with Marc Overmars [Ajax’s director of football at the time], but they then chose Mike van der Hoorn, for about four million I believe."

How Van Dijk's career could have been different

It’s an astonishing situation to think about. We don’t wish to talk ill of Mike van der Hoorn, but his career hasn’t exactly been Virgil van Dijk’s.

Van der Hoorn spent three years at Ajax before moving to Swansea for four years of Championship mediocrity and being released by the club. He was then poached by Arminia Bielefeld for their first season back in the Bundesliga, before a loan move to Utretcht was made permanent.

To be fair to Utretcht, they are second in the Eredivise at time of writing - above Ajax - so Van der Hoorn’s career is at a net positive currently.

But this is a story that we’ve heard before. Decca Records decided to sign Brian Poole and The Tremeloes over The Beatles. 13 publishers rejected the chance to sign the first Harry Potter book. A volcanic eruption stopped Robert Lewandowski travelling to sign with Blackburn Rovers.

Van der Hoorn won himself an Eredivise title in 2013-14 - despite only making three appearances for Ajax in the league that season - so it wasn’t all in vain.

But a Premier League, Champions League, an FA Cup and two League Cups, as well as PFA Player of the Year and multiple PFA Teams of the Year is arguably a more preferable accomplishment.

But we’re not complaining. If Van Dijk’s career didn’t pan out in the exact way it did then there is a chance he never came to Anfield.

And what a different world that would have been.