Virgil van Dijk now works for travel company Expedia, which means he represents Liverpool both on and off the field. The Reds captain has taken on this new job because the city is getting so many tourists.

Liverpool is getting a lot of tourists, and Virgil van Dijk knows why.

Merseyside has had so many more tourists than usual that Expedia called Liverpool one of the ten most popular places in the world in their Unpack 2024 guide. Searches for trips to Liverpool have grown by 100% year over year as more people from the US, Canada, Australia, Norway, and Ireland come to visit.

Expedia has added Reds captain Van Dijk as a spokesperson because of how popular Liverpool is becoming. This is Van Dijk’s ultimate tour guide. It includes places like the famous Cavern Club, which helped the Beatles get their start, the famous Royal Albert Dock, and of course Anfield, where he has lived for the past six years.

“Travel is a real passion of mine,” said Van Dijk.

“We visit so many cities through football, but don’t get to fully immerse ourselves in them, so any time off I get, I am always looking to head out on an adventure with my friends and family. That’s why I am excited to be partnering with Expedia, as we both believe that we are all made to travel.”

As well as the historical sites and of course the football, Van Dijk’s travel guide to the top 10 things to do in Liverpool – which has been curated with the help of some of his teammates – also includes a visit to the new luxury five-star Municipal Hotel and Spa on Dale Street, the independent restaurants and bars of Lark Lane and the immersive culture, gaming and art of Cains Brewery Village.

Van Dijk hopes the guide will lead to an even greater increase in tourism to Liverpool, while he’s also got his eye on a few trips of his own too.

“The football calendar is incredibly busy of course but one day in the future I’d love to visit Japan, a country I am fascinated by. I’m a big fan of city breaks too. I love exploring new cities and cultures with my family,” he said.

“I love many cities including Amsterdam and Paris, but Liverpool of course for me holds such a special place in my heart which is why I’ve been excited to curate my Liverpool travel guide with Expedia. I hope it helps future visitors to this great city!”