Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

The 13 biggest Liverpool transfers of all time: Dominik Szoboszlai replaces Alisson Becker in the top three

Liverpool's Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Darwin Nunez. TEAMtalk montage.

While Liverpool don’t have the unlimited funds of some of their rivals, they’re not afraid of splashing the cash when they feel it is necessary.

The Reds have made a number of big-money additions to Jurgen Klopp’s squad in recent years and there have been plenty of success stories.

We’ve taken a look at the 13 most expensive signings in Liverpool’s history and how those players subsequently fared after completing the move.

Note: we’ve only used the initial transfer fees and haven’t taken into account any potential add-ons.

13= Ibrahima Konate – £35m

After suffering an injury crisis in defence during the 2020/21 season, Liverpool then triggered the £35million release clause in Konate’s RB Leipzig contract.

The centre-back was initially eased into the Liverpool team but has since formed an impressive partnership with Virgil van Dijk.

While there are concerns about his injury record, the 24-year-old has all the tools to lead Liverpool’s backline for the next decade.

13= Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – £35m

Oxlade-Chamberlain rejected Arsenal’s contract offer and turned down a move to Chelsea before joining Liverpool in a £35million deal in 2017.

The England international made a bright start to his Anfield career but his debut season was cruelly curtailed by a cruciate ligament rupture in April 2018.

After returning to full fitness and winning the Premier League in 2019/20, he then became a peripheral figure and was ultimately released at the end of the 2022/23 season.

13= Alexis MacAllister – £35m

MacAllister shot to prominence in 2022/23, winning the World Cup with Argentina before helping Brighton & Hove Albion qualify for the Europa League.

Despite his exploits at club and international level, Liverpool were able to sign the midfielder for just £35million after triggering a release clause in his contract.

“We are adding a very talented, very smart, very technically skilled boy to our squad and this is super news, really it is,” Klopp told Liverpool’s official website.

“I do not think the football world needs me to say too much about Alexis’ qualities because they are already pretty well known but it is clear that he is someone who can play in a number of positions in the midfield and is an all-rounder, I would say. He is calm and composed and someone with proper game intelligence.”

13= Cody Gakpo – £35m

Gakpo spoke with Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and looked set to move to Old Trafford in the January transfer window.

But Liverpool hijacked the move by agreeing to pay PSV Eindhoven an initial £35million and a further £9million in add-ons.

The 24-year-old then registered seven goals and three assists in his debut half-season, including a brace in Liverpool’s 7-0 win over United.

13= Andy Carroll – £35m

After Fernando Torres completed his £50million move to Chelsea on deadline day in January 2011, Liverpool reacted by signing Carroll from Newcastle United.

The striker became the most expensive British player in history but reportedly struggled to deal with the attention and pressure that came with the price tag.

He scored just 11 goals in 58 appearances for the Reds before being sold to West Ham United in 2013 at a £20million loss.

8. Luis Diaz – £37m

In January 2022, Liverpool fought off competition from Tottenham and signed Diaz from Porto in a deal that could ultimately cost £49million.

He hit the ground running and won two trophies in his debut half-season after producing man-of-the-match performances in the League Cup and FA Cup finals.

But the Colombia international missed most of the 2022/23 season due to a knee injury and Liverpool really struggled in his absence.

7. Fabinho – £39.3m

Liverpool identified Fabinho as Emre Can’s successor in the summer of 2018 and paid Monaco an initial £39.3million to secure his signature.

The Brazil international proved to be a world-class upgrade, helping the Reds win the Champions League in his debut season before lifting the Premier League trophy in 2019/20.

Admittedly, he endured a mediocre 2022/23 season by his standards, but Fabinho has still been one of Klopp’s greatest signings.

6. Diogo Jota – £41m

After winning the Premier League in 2019/20, Liverpool bolstered their attacking options by signing Jota from Wolves for a £41million transfer fee, which could rise to £45million with potential add-ons.

He became the first player since Robbie Fowler to score seven goals in his first 10 Liverpool appearances and finished his debut season with 13 goals in all competitions.

The Portugal international then netted 21 goals in 2021/22 but has fallen down the pecking order following the arrivals of Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez.

5. Naby Keita – £52.75m

Having starred for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, expectations were high when Keita completed a £52.75million move to Liverpool in 2018.

The midfielder displayed flashes of brilliance but failed to live up to the billing due to a number of injury problems and a lack of consistency on the pitch.

He made just 84 Premier League appearances during his five-year stint at Anfield and joined Werder Bremen on a free transfer in 2023.

4. Alisson Becker – £56m

After Loris Karius’ error-strewn display in the 2018 Champions League final, Liverpool addressed their problem position with the £56million addition of Alisson from Roma.

The Brazil international temporarily became the most expensive goalkeeper of all time until Kepa Arrizabalaga usurped him a few weeks later.

Unlike Kepa, he has more than lived up to his price tag and has picked up two Premier League Golden Glove awards.

3. Dominik Szoboszlai – £60.1m

Szoboszlai followed in the footsteps of Naby Keita and Ibrahima Konate in the summer of 2023 after Liverpool triggered the £60.1million release clause in his RB Leipzig contract.

Despite the hefty price tag, Klopp insists that the club will not be heaping pressure on the 22-year-old Hungary international.

“Dominik is still a very young player,” he said. “He has so much development ahead of him and this means it makes sense for us all to be patient and to give him the time and space to allow his talent to come through within our team.”

Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool

2. Darwin Nunez – £64million

Nunez scored 34 goals in 41 appearances for Benfica in 2021/22 before joining Liverpool in a deal that could ultimately cost £85million.

The Uruguay international is yet to replicate that prolific form in a Liverpool shirt and was guilty of missing a number of clear-cut opportunities in 2022/23.

But he did find the back of the net against the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Madrid in his debut season and there are plenty of signs that he will come good in 2023/24.

1. Virgil van Dijk – £75m

Eyebrows were raised when it was announced that Van Dijk would join Liverpool in a transfer worth £75million – a then world record fee for a defender.

But the centre-back silenced his doubters by winning the PFA Player of the Year award and the Champions League in his first full season at Anfield.

He’s since added the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA World Club Cup to his trophy cabinet and will go down as one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players.

READ MORE: The 10 most valuable football clubs in the world in 2023: Manchester United and Liverpool both make the top four

Liverpool Virgil van Dijk Dominik Szoboszlai Darwin Nuñez

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