Liverpool's 25 most expensive transfers of all time

Tom Weber

• 29 Oct 2025 04:00 CDT
• 24 min read

Analysis

Liverpool have been extremely successful in the transfer market over the past few years, becoming the envy of the Premier League for their smart recruitment.

Although the Reds previously had a reputation for being frugal, the reality is that they were always willing to spend big on the right profile, bringing in some transformative players for big money.

In the summer of 2025, the veneer of caution in the market was finally shattered for good when Liverpool backed head coach Arne Slot with an unprecedented investment after the Dutchman had delivered the Premier League title in the 2024/25 season.

In the process, the Anfield outfit not once but twice set a new club - and Premier League - record. Below, FootballTransfers runs through the 25 most expensive Liverpool signings in history.

25. Giovanni Leoni - €31m (from Parma, 2025)

One of the more understated arrivals of Liverpool's record-breaking 2025 summer transfer window saw the Reds spend €31 million on Italy youth international Giovanni Leoni.

A centre-back by trade, the youngster was coming off a breakout season in Serie A with Parma. He arrived to add much-needed cover at the heart of the defence, but the teenager endured a nightmare start as he tore his ACL on his debut in the Carabao Cup against Southampton.

24. Fernando Torres - €38m (from Atletico Madrid, 2007)

Fernando Torres, El Niño, was a daredevil striker who made Liverpool fans dream, only to break their hearts in brutal fashion when he joined rivals Chelsea and ruined his career in the process.

The Spaniard arrived at Anfield in 2007 in a €38m deal from boyhood club Atletico Madrid and quickly became a fan favourite. Quick, strong and cool in front of the goal, Torres was one of the Reds' most inspired signings of the 2000s.

After scoring 81 goals in 142 appearances, he had his head turned by Chelsea and joined them in January 2011 for €58.5m. He never managed to recapture the magical form he had shown at Atleti and Liverpool.

23. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - €38m (from Arsenal, 2017)

10 years after Torres, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain arrived from Arsenal for the same fee. An underwhelming signing at the time because he had become something of a utility man in North London, the England international would prove his doubters wrong in his six years at Anfield.

Although he struggled with several serious injuries, Oxlade-Chamberlain was a reliable midfielder and fan favourite when he was fit. He had limitless energy and a howitzer of a right foot.

After being part of the side that won the 2019 Champions League and 2020 Premier League, he left Liverpool for Besiktas in 2023 with 146 appearances under his belt.

22. Ibrahima Konate - €40m (from RB Leipzig, 2021)

Ibrahima Konate joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig for €40m in 2021 with a good reputation. Although his former teammate Dayot Upamecano had made the headlines in the Bundesliga, Konate was arguably the more reliable defender.

His time at Liverpool has been up and down, however. Although he has often been solid, he always has a needless moment of madness in him that undoes his good work.

Konate has looked a shadow of himself in the 2025/26 season and is on an expiring contract.

21. Ryan Gravenberch - €40m (from Bayern Munich, 2023)

Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was one of Europe's biggest talents when he broke through at Ajax, but by the time he turned up at Anfield in a €40m deal, his stock had dramatically fallen.

That is because Gravenberch had joined Bayern Munich and struggled massively for minutes. His first season at Anfield was a continuation of those struggles, but he looked a man reborn when Arne Slot arrived.

Played in a deeper midfield role, the Netherlands international was one of the most consistent and impressive performers in Liverpool's title-winning 2024/25 season.

20. Jeremie Frimpong - €40m (from Bayer Leverkusen, 2025)

The third player signed from the Bundesliga for €40m was Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong. He joined the Reds off the back of two hugely impressive seasons under former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

A right-back who played more as a right-winger in Germany, Frimpong faces the task of replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold - an almost impossible job and one injuries have so far prevented the Dutchman from carrying out.

19. Andy Carroll - €41m (from Newcastle, 2011)

Andy Carroll joined Liverpool on January Deadline Day in 2011 as the heir to the aforementioned Torres after he had joined Chelsea. Unlike Torres, however, the Englishman would fail to succeed at Anfield.

A panic buy in the truest sense of the term, Carroll would go down as a massive flop at Liverpool after commanding what was at the time the largest transfer fee for a British player in history. By 2012, he was out on loan at West Ham and joined the Hammers permanently in 2013.

18. Roberto Firmino - €41m (from Hoffenheim, 2015)

Not many players can say that they redefined a position in football, but former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino certainly changed the 'false nine' role forever.

A player not really wanted by then-manager Brendan Rodgers when he joined for €40m from Hoffenheim in 2015, the Brazilian would go on to play a vital role under Jurgen Klopp.

The skilful attacker formed Europe's most feared triumvirate with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane and was one of the first names on the teamsheet for Klopp.

After 362 appearances, 111 goals and 76 assists, Firmino departed for Saudi Arabia in 2023 as a club legend.

17. Sadio Mane - €41.2m (from Southampton, 2016)

A year after Firmino joined, Sadio Mane arrived from Southampton for €41.2m and proved just as much of an inspired signing.

The left-winger was a devastating forward for the Reds, with his speed and dribbling ability terrifying defences.

Like Firmino, Mane departed in 2023 as a club legend, joining Bayern Munich. He had scored 120 goals and provided 46 assists in 269 games for Liverpool.

16. Mohamed Salah - €42m (from AS Roma, 2017)

Liverpool's attacking rebuild under Klopp was completed when former Chelsea flop Mohamed Salah arrived from Roma for €42m in 2017.

A signing that raised eyebrows at the time, the Egyptian has since gone on to establish himself as one of the best forwards in Premier League history.

The crown jewel - and the last man standing - of Klopp's unstoppable attack, Salah sits third in Liverpool's all-time scoring charts and has won everything there is to win with the Anfield club.

15. Alexis Mac Allister - €42m (from Brighton, 2023)

Klopp oversaw a major midfield rebuild in the summer of 2023, which included the signing of 2022 World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for €42m.

Liverpool's failure to also land his Seagulls teammate Moises Caicedo meant that Mac Allister was initially used in an unfamiliar No.6 role.

However, the Argentine has proved a superb signing, excelling in whatever midfield role he has been utilised in and contributing both offensively and defensively.

14. Cody Gakpo - €42m (from PSV, 2023)

A rare January signing, Netherlands international Cody Gakpo arrived from PSV for €42m in 2023 and played a crucial role in Liverpool's 2024/25 Premier League title success.

Gakpo endured a slow start to life on Merseyside, and he can be a frustrating player due to his decision-making - he loves shooting from unfavourable angles - but he has, on the whole, been a solid signing.

13. Diogo Jota - €44.7m (from Wolves, 2020)

Diego Jota is a name that will forever be woven into the fabric of Liverpool, but for a very sad reason.

The Portugal international joined off the back of Liverpool's first Premier League title success in 2020 and quickly established himself as a fan favourite due to his clinical finishing.

Although always plagued by injuries, Jota was an integral member of the squad and contributed with six goals to Liverpool's second Premier League triumph.

He tragically passed away in a car accident in the summer of 2025, aged just 28.

12. Fabinho - €45m (from Monaco, 2018)

Perhaps one of the most underrated signings of the Klopp era, Fabinho joined Liverpool from Monaco for €45m in 2018.

The Brazil international quickly became a key cog in Klopp's workhorse engine room. Anchoring the midfield, Fabinho was excellent at snapping into tackles and breaking up play.

He left for Saudi Arabia in 2023, and Liverpool struggled to adequately replace him at first, illustrating his importance.

11. Christian Benteke - €46.5m (from Aston Villa, 2015)

Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was hellbent on signing Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, and a compromise was reached in 2015.

Rodgers got Benteke, but he had to stop vetoing the recruitment department's planned signing of Firmino. Ultimately, the data boffins were on the right side of history.

While Firmino excelled, Benteke left as a massive flop after just a year. He joined Crystal Palace with only 10 Liverpool goals to his name.

The 10 most expensive Liverpool signings in history

10. Milos Kerkez - €46.9m (from Bournemouth, 2025)

Milos Kerkez was one of several expensive arrivals during the 2025 summer transfer window following a stellar spell at Bournemouth.

The Hungary international had established himself as one of the Premier League’s best full-backs during his time on the South Coast, and Liverpool won the race for his signature amid their pursuit for a long-term Andrew Robertson replacement.

Kerkez was handed a five-year contract upon his arrival at Anfield, and he immediately displaced Robertson as Arne Slot’s preferred left-back.

However, it didn't take long for the veteran to show that he was still the more reliable option. Kerkez has struggled to live up to his price tag so far, but he still has bags of potential.

9. Luis Diaz - €49m (from Porto, 2022)

Salah, Firmino and Mane provided many years of brilliant service for Liverpool, but all good things must come to an end, prompting the Reds to look for a new star attacker in 2022.

Having initially wanted to sign Porto winger Luiz Diaz in the summer, they sensed an opportunity and brought his move forward to January. He arrived for €49m, and he enjoyed a stellar stint at Anfield.

Although at times quite frustrating because he was often more occupied with dribbling than actually making a decisive attacking impact, he left Liverpool in 2025 having been a hugely important player in his final season.

The Colombian racked up a respectable 64 goal contributions in 148 appearances for Liverpool and won five trophies during his time at the club, before his move to Bayern Munich.

8. Naby Keita - €60m (from RB Leipzig, 2018)

After an impressive spell at RB Leipzig, Liverpool decided that Naby Keita was the ideal signing to bolster their midfield roster, and they spent a whopping €60m to sign him in 2018.

In retrospect, that fee was far too much, and Keita was never able to pay it back with his performances. Klopp never fully trusted the Guinea international at Anfield, preferring Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, while injury issues were also a major problem.

Keita failed to make over 25 starts in all competitions in a single campaign at Liverpool, and he featured in just eight Premier League appearances during his final season at Anfield.

He returned to the Bundesliga in 2023, surprisingly joining Werder Bremen on a free transfer in what proved to be a similarly disastrous move. He again dealt with fitness issues and fell out with the manager.

7. Dominik Szoboszlai - €70m (from RB Leipzig, 2023)

Touted as 'the ideal Klopp player', Liverpool pulled off the €70m signing of Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig during the summer of 2023 as they looked to restructure their midfield.

A player renowned for his technical ability, versatility and pressing, Liverpool met Hungarian's release clause after he helped Leipzig to back-to-back DFB-Pokal wins during his time at the club.

Szoboszlai was the Reds’ third-most expensive signing of all time upon his arrival, and he has become a fan favourite and has made himself virtually undroppable.

Originally a skilful attacking midfielder, Szoboszlai's game has undergone several transitions at Anfield. He was more of a water-carrier in Slot's first season at the club and is now even playing at right-back at times due to the gaping hole left behind by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

6. Alisson - €72.5m (from Roma, 2018)

Signed in the same summer as Keita, Alisson fared much better at Anfield than the Guinea midfielder as he finally ended Liverpool's goalkeeper woes.

Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius were both liabilities, but Alisson immediately fixed things upon his arrival as he helped Liverpool lift the Champions League trophy in his debut campaign, in addition to keeping 27 clean sheets across all competitions.

Alisson then played a key role in Liverpool’s first-ever Premier League title in 2020 and again in 2025. He has now racked up over 300 appearances for the club and is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation.

5. Hugo Ekitike - €80m (from Eintracht Frankfurt, 2025)

Due to the underwhelming performances of Darwin Nunez and the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, Liverpool urgently needed to sign a striker in 2025.

After an approach for Newcastle's Alexander Isak was knocked back, they settled on Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike, who notched 34 goal contributions in just 48 games during his first full season with the Bundesliga outfit.

The Frenchman set Liverpool back a whopping €80m, with the deal capable of rising to as high as €95m. Bizarrely, after signing Ekitike, Liverpool did manage to get their hands on Isak as well, making for an awkward team dynamic.

Ekitike started the 2025/26 season as Liverpool's striker and immediately hit the ground running, scoring regularly. Despite this, Isak eventually supplanted him.

4. Virgil van Dijk - €84.7m (from Southampton, 2018)

Arguably the most important signing in Liverpool's recent history, Virgil van Dijk changed the fortunes of the club for the better after his arrival from Southampton in January 2018.

Yet the story of Van Dijk and Liverpool had already started the previous summer. Liverpool tried to bring him in in 2017 but were forced to abandon their pursuit after the Saints accused them of having 'tapped up' the Dutchman.

That was soon forgotten after his arrival, however, as he guided Liverpool to the Champions League final in his first six months, and followed that up by winning the competition the next year.

The Dutchman soon became the best centre-back in the world, and he finished second in the 2019 Ballon d'Or ranking. Most impressive of all, Van Dijk has managed to make a €84.7m transfer fee look like a complete bargain.

3. Darwin Nunez - €85m (from Benfica, 2022)

Darwin Nunez became the most expensive player in Liverpool's history when he joined the club from Benfica in 2022.

Liverpool paid an initial €80m for the Uruguay striker, and although he scored 33 goals across his first two seasons at the club, his poor finishing saw him lose his starting place under Slot.

An erratic character whose work-rate and application couldn't be faulted, Nunez and Liverpool were never really a happy marriage, despite an almost cult-hero-like status because of his personality and commitment.

Nunez struggled immensely during his final season at Anfield, and he was sold to Al-Hilal for €53m in August 2025.

2. Florian Wirtz - €125m (from Bayer Leverkusen, 2025)

After winning the 2025 Premier League title, Liverpool went all out to sign Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz after convincing him to snub Bayern Munich.

Regarded as one of the biggest talents in world football, the Reds paid €125m to sign Wirtz, and that fee could increase further if add-on clauses are triggered.

The Germany superstar left Bayer Leverkusen, having scored 57 goals and provided 65 assists in 197 games for the club, and he briefly became Liverpool’s all-time record signing.

However, Wirtz's adaptation to the Premier League has been slow, even seeing him dropped from the starting line-up despite his price tag. There have been signs of promise, though, and the attacking midfielder is too good not to overcome his current slump.

1. Alexander Isak - €145m (from Newcastle, 2025)

Wirtz was overtaken as Liverpool’s record signing by Alexander Isak, who finally joined the club on Transfer Deadline Day in 2025.

It was a lengthy and chaotic transfer saga that included the Sweden international going AWOL from Newcastle in order to force through his dream move to Anfield.

He eventually joined Liverpool for a Premier League record fee of €145m after Newcastle reluctantly granted a sale following the arrival of Nick Woltemade.

Unlike his replacement at St. James' Park, Isak has struggled to live up to expectations. Due to essentially going on strike at Newcastle, Isak missed most of pre-season, and it's showing at Liverpool, with the striker playing catch-up.

The 25 most expensive Liverpool signings of all time

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