Van Dijk to Milan in 2027? Free Agent Claim Resurfaces

Van Dijk to Milan: The Claim That Won't Go Away

Virgil van Dijk “will come to Milan sooner or later”, according to Italian journalist Carlo Pellegatti, who has doubled down on a transfer prediction that has followed the Liverpool captain for months. The claim, made on Pellegatti's YouTube channel, centres on the possibility of the Dutch centre-back arriving at San Siro as a free agent in 2027, when his current Liverpool contract is due to expire.

According to the report, Van Dijk had been on the verge of walking away from Anfield several months ago, with his deal running down. It was reported that he favoured a move to San Siro and had even agreed personal terms with the Rossoneri, only to ultimately choose to stay on as captain of the Reds after what was described as a difficult campaign. Now aged 35, the defender remains on Milan's radar, with the report stating he is still in the thinking of coach Ruben Amorim.

Pellegatti's Long-Running Prediction

Pellegatti, a well-known Milan pundit, addressed the scepticism head-on. “Every now and then, people make fun of me for saying Van Dijk would join, but then they had done the same the January before Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived,” he said. He also referenced a claim attributed to Milan owner Gerry Cardinale: “Either we get him now by paying or next year for free.”

Pellegatti added: “I continue to say that Van Dijk will arrive at Milan sooner or later. We’ll see if Cardinale changes his mind or not, but I can assure you it was not just a name I pulled out of thin air.”

The context for Milan's interest is well established. Liverpool paid €85m to sign Van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018, a deal that transformed him into a genuine icon at Anfield. He has since amassed 380 competitive appearances for the club, scoring 36 goals from defence — a remarkable return for a centre-back and a reminder of why a club of Milan's stature would entertain a move even at an advanced age.

What makes the story notable is the timing. Van Dijk opted to remain at Liverpool rather than force an exit, but with his contract situation unresolved beyond the current season, the free-agent route in 2027 remains a live possibility in the eyes of the Italian journalist. Whether Milan's ownership pursues a deal — either for a fee now or for nothing later — is presented as an open question rather than a done deal. For now, the only certainty from the source material is that Van Dijk stayed at Liverpool this summer, and that Milan's interest has not been extinguished.

Patric Nears Lazio Exit for Al-Ittifaq

In a separate transfer development, Lazio are reportedly ready to say goodbye to defender Patric, with talks underway to terminate his contract by mutual consent. According to Sportitalia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà, negotiations are at an advanced stage, and the UAE First Division side Al-Ittifaq are waiting to sign him as a free agent.

The 33-year-old has been part of the Biancocelesti squad for over a decade, arriving from the Barcelona B team in 2015. He made 244 competitive appearances for the club, scoring six goals and providing six assists, while also collecting five red cards during his long spell in Rome. Following a muscular injury, Patric has not played at all for Lazio so far this season, and it appears his final match for the club may already have been and gone.

His contract was only set to run until June 2027, so a mutual termination would cut the experience short. The Spanish defender would then be free to sign for Al-Ittifaq, a side that already boasts players such as Mario Balotelli, Douglas Costa and Daniele Baselli on their books. It is a move that would reunite Patric with a squad built around experienced names, and it underlines the growing pull of UAE football for veteran European defenders.

What It Means

Two very different transfer stories, but a common thread: contracts, expiry dates and the free-agent market. For Milan, the Van Dijk saga is a long game — one that depends on Liverpool's willingness to let their captain run down his deal and on Milan's ownership deciding whether to pay now or wait. For Lazio, the Patric situation is a more immediate piece of housekeeping, one that would remove a long-serving squad member and hand him a fresh start in the Middle East.

As ever with transfer reporting, the details matter. Van Dijk remains a Liverpool player, and any Milan move in 2027 is a prediction rather than a confirmed agreement. Patric, meanwhile, is still contracted to Lazio until a termination is finalised. For supporters tracking these situations, the coming months — and the expiry dates of June 2027 — will be the moments that decide whether either move becomes reality. For more analysis across Europe's top divisions, see our Serie A predictions and Premier League predictions, and keep an eye on latest football news as these stories develop.