Liverpool Break Records in Huge Summer Spending
Liverpool have made history in the summer transfer market, spending £235 million to build a new squad. The Premier League champions brought in several high-profile players as they look to defend their title and challenge in Europe.
The biggest move was the signing of Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for a British record fee of £125 million. The transfer saga lasted all summer, but Isak finally signed a six-year deal and promised fans that he would “make history” at Anfield. Another record-breaking deal followed as German midfielder Florian Wirtz joined from Bayer Leverkusen. The 22-year-old cost £100 million, with add-ons that could take the total to £116 million, making him the most expensive transfer in British football history.
Liverpool did not stop there. They secured the signing of French forward Hugo Ekitiké from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79 million, beating competition from other top clubs. The Reds also added new strength in defense, bringing in Hungarian left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth for £40 million as a long-term replacement for Andy Robertson. Dutch defender Jeremie Frimpong arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5 million, while highly-rated Italy Under-19 centre-back Giovanni Leoni signed from Parma for £26 million.
The club also reinforced their goalkeeping department. Georgian international Giorgi Mamardashvili joined from Valencia for £25 million to compete with Alisson for the number one shirt. Liverpool further added young talent with the signing of Hungarian prospect Armin Pecsi for £1.5 million, and they also welcomed experienced goalkeeper Freddie Woodman from Preston on a free transfer.
While big stars arrived, several important players left Anfield. Colombian winger Luis Díaz completed a move to Bayern Munich for £65.5 million, while Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez joined Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia for £46 million after scoring 40 goals in 143 appearances for the Reds. Defender Jarell Quansah moved to Bayer Leverkusen in a £30 million deal, while young forward Ben Doak joined Bournemouth for £25 million. Midfielder Tyler Morton went to Lyon for £15 million, and goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher left for Brentford in a £12.5 million deal.
The biggest shock came when club vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold signed for Real Madrid. The England international ended his 20-year stay at Liverpool after Madrid agreed a £10 million fee to cut his contract short. It was a historic departure that marked the end of an era.
Other exits included Nat Phillips joining West Brom for £3 million, while Harvey Elliott moved to Aston Villa on loan with an option to buy. Several young players also left on loan to gain experience, including Kostas Tsimikas to Roma, Lewis Koumas to Birmingham, Luca Stephenson to Dundee United, and Isaac Mabaya to Wigan. Welsh defender Owen Beck joined Derby, while goalkeepers Harvey Davies and Vitezslav Jaros left for Crawley Town and Ajax respectively.
With Isak, Wirtz, and Ekitiké leading the new arrivals, Liverpool have assembled one of the most expensive squads in football. At the same time, they have said goodbye to legends like Alexander-Arnold and key stars such as Díaz and Núñez. The coming season will be a true test of whether this massive rebuild can bring more glory to Anfield.
