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Liverpool summer signings ranked as €470m spend brings a 32-year low
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 26 Oct 2025 00:33 BST
- 5 min read
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Liverpool spent a record €470 million during the summer transfer window, but the Premier League champions have moved backwards alarmingly since the beginning of the season.
Arne Slot’s side twice broke the British transfer record during the summer to sign Florian Wirtz and then Alexander Isak, while the Anfield side also added Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni in an unprecedented transfer splurge.
While a period of transition was perhaps inevitable, the decline of the Merseyside outfit has been alarming.
On Saturday, they slumped to a 3-2 loss away to Brentford, consigning them to a third successive defeat in the Premier League.
The reverse also means that they have lost four of their first nine league games for the first time since 1993/94 while they have also been defeated by Galatasaray in the Champions League.
As a team and as individuals, it’s not yet worked out for the Anfield club. Here, FootballTransfers assesses how the new additions have started, grading them on a scale from A+ to F.
Alexander Isak: D-
From Newcastle: €145m
The Sweden star went on strike to force through his move to Liverpool from Newcastle, so after a disrupted summer, it was perhaps inevitable that he would find some difficulty in settling down. Now nearly two months into his Anfield adventure, he still only has one goal from his eight appearances.
Worse still, the need to integrate him has adversely impacted the team, and in particular, Hugo Ektike. The Reds have lost all three Premier League matches he has started.
Better will surely come.
Florian Wirtz: E
From Bayer Leverkusen: €125m
There’s no doubt that Wirtz has completely missed his stride in the opening weeks at Anfield. He’s yet to get a goal or an assist in the Premier League, while it appears that Slot does not quite know how to use him yet.
Two decisive passes in the Champions League against Eintracht Frankfurt rather pad his mediocre start to life in England, with the German setting up goals four and five in a one-sided rout that was always heading his team’s way.
Remember, this rating is based purely on the start of the season; Wirtz is still fully expected to become a star.
Current ETV
Florian Wirtz
AM (C), M (CL)
Liverpool
Florian Wirtz
AM (C), M (CL)
Liverpool
ETV Range
€102.8M - €171.3M
Hugo Ekitike: A
From Eintracht Frankfurt: €80m
Given that Isak announced his intention to leave Newcastle mere hours after Ektike had arrived for €80m from Frankfurt, it would have been easy for the Frenchman to have grown frustrated. Instead, he’s knuckled down and been by some distance his side’s outstanding player.
That he has started only one of the last three Premier League matches shows he is suffering unfairly due to the need to play Isak.
The only minor grumbles? A silly dismissal against Southampton in the League Cup while a return of one goal in three Champions League games could be better.
Milos Kerkez: D
From Bournemouth: €47m
It’s been a season to forget for Kerkez, who has replaced Andrew Robertson in the Liverpool starting XI in name rather than quality. A star for Bournemouth due to his attacking qualities, these have not been on display regularly at Anfield, despite his goal against Brentford, while he has looked vulnerable at the back, often getting caught out of position.
Kerkez is lucky he’s got big names like Isak and Wirtz taking some of the heat off him following a poor start to life on Merseyside.
Jeremie Frimpong: D
From Bayer Leverkusen: €40m
Another major disappointment, the Netherlands international right-back has started only one Premier League match for Liverpool. In part, this has been because of a niggling hamstring injury that kept him out against Brentford.
He scored a brilliant goal on debut against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield but has thereafter shown nothing of the spark he was famous for at Bayer Leverkusen.
The €40m signing may grow into Trent Alexander-Arnold’s heir, but he’s not shown any evidence of it yet.
Geovani Leoni: n/a
From Parma: €31m
Struck down by a serious knee injury on his first appearance.
Related stories:
Slot makes honest admission after benching Salah: It’s the last thing I’m worried about
Wirtz haters will 'eat their words', blasts Jurgen Klopp
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