Celtic switch goes to plan for Virgil van Dijk

Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk says his first season in Scotland has given him everything he wanted from his Parkhead move.

Celtic's Virgil van Dijk. Picture: PA

The former FC Groningen defender sealed a £2.6million move to the Scottish champions last summer and has been a stand-out performer for Neil Lennon’s side. The two goals conceded against Aberdeen in Saturday’s William Scottish Cup defeat were the first the Celtic defence had let in since mid-December and they are almost certain to win a third Scottish Premiership title in a row, leading the second-placed Dons by a mammoth 21 points.

Despite their cup exit, Dutchman Van Dijk says his first move abroad has gone as well as he could have hoped. The 22-year-old said: “It feels very good to be unbeaten in the league so far and I’m very proud of it.

“I think the whole team should be proud. It’s a big team performance to do this and also a personal achievement for me too because I’ve never experienced this before in my life, so I’m very happy. It’s a good partnership I have with Efe

Ambrose – he’s a good guy. Off and on the pitch I talk with him a lot and I learn from him and I think he can learn from me too.

“You hope that, when you come to a club like Celtic, that you can do well. You have something in mind, you hope that it goes to plan and so far for me, winning games and breaking records means it has, so I’m happy.”