Manchester City legend and Belgian professional footballer, Vincent Kompany has named Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk as the best ever Premier League defender ahead of the likes of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand.

Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018, becoming the world’s most expensive defender at the time. He played an influential role as they won the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup. 

The Dutch defender also helped his team finish second place in the Premier League.

Virgil van Dijk was recently crowned UEFA’s 2018/19 Men’s Player of the Year ahead of Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. 

The 28-year-old also picked up the prize for the UEFA Champions League defender of the year

 Kompany was asked where he stands personally among the greatest central defenders to play in the Premier League 

He said: “I would bring it back to Virgil van Dijk, he’s not been on the scene as long as Terry, Ferdinand who have been around for a long time but the signs he’s shown in the last few years.” 

“He’s shown if he had been around longer he’d have been at the top for a long time. The Liverpool before Van Dijk and after are a completely different setup. I’ll give him that one.”

Vincent Kompany is currently a player-manager for R.S.C. Anderlecht in Belgium.