Virgil Van Dijk has been named the Premier League’s official Player of the Season for the 2018-19 campaign. [ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ] The Dutch defender has transformed Liverpool’s fortunes after his $100 million transfer from Southampton in January 2018. Since then he has helped Liverpool reach back-to-back UEFA Champions League finals, while they have also recored a record points tally in the PL this season. Van Dijk, 27, adds this award to his PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, as he was also named in the PFA Team of the Year. Man City’s Raheem Sterling was named the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year to prevent VVD from completing a clean sweep of all of the top individual awards. The captain of the Dutch national team has solidified Liverpool’s previously porous defensive unit, while he has also added key goals in attack and is a hero among Liverpool’s fans. His first 18 months as a Liverpool player has seen him reach levels people thought he could maybe achieve, and he has surpassed even the loftiest expectations placed upon him with minimum fuss. Follow @JPW_NBCSports