Liverpool have long been held as the gold standard in transfer business due to the great synergy between Jurgen Klopp and then sporting director Michael Edwards.
Together, they helped transform the Reds from a struggling side to one that won the Premier League and Champions League. This team has been built true to Klopp’s image, with each brick carefully placed to create a team that Pep Guardiola sees as his biggest challenger.
Liverpool used a combination of smart scouting and shrewd know-how to increase the value of their players. They rarely overpaid, and often had players that made you wonder, “How did he get paid that much?”
However, after their success in the Premier League in 2020, the Reds began signing contracts and allowing departures, which suggested their level had dropped. Mr. Edwards retired and later returned in a senior role, but chose to retire again.
It used to feel like Liverpool wouldn’t spend big on a player unless he was a big success. That is no longer the case.
There were many players who didn’t get results, and there was definitely a time in the transition from Klopp to Arne Slott when the Dutch player wanted to incorporate more personal principles rather than living off the fundamentals of the German player. He eventually moved on and now Andoni Iraola is looking to pick up form from a Liverpool squad full of talent that perhaps lacks overall direction and planning.
A look at the signings and departures of the past decade that have made Liverpool the envy of the league in recruiting and staying, and the signings and departures that have made Liverpool more susceptible to big deals that have yet to come to fruition.
hit songs
andy robertson
Of all the big names to have appeared at Anfield, none were more valuable than the Scot, who was signed from Hull City due to their relegation to the Championship. Still, Klopp saw something in Robertson and brought him into the team. He didn’t necessarily hit the ground running right away, but within 12 months he was one of the top-flight’s best-performing and most energetic left-backs and would continue to work for many years, rarely dropping a level thereafter.
Andy Robertson spent almost a decade at Anfield (Image: Jack Thomas, Getty Images)
mohamed salah
It made sense to sign a former Chelsea winger, who was unavailable at Stamford Bridge, and a player who had a great few years in Serie A, for £34m, but it was still an element of risk. His fast-paced, counter-attacking style suits Klopp’s system perfectly, and his goal on his debut for Watford will earn him the Golden Boot award and put him on track for a record-breaking first season. The goals kept coming, and when he finally left Anfield he was the team’s third-greatest scorer in their history.
Philippe Coutinho
The Brazilian has been allowed to move to Barcelona just months after Salah penned a deal that complimented a front line that included Coutinho and Sadio Mane. It was clear he wanted a move and Klopp was happy to say yes to a £142m deal. While an elite player has left, the funds they have received will allow them to reinvest in areas that pose bigger problems, and his departure will ultimately ignite their path to league and European glory.
The arrival of Virgil van Dijk was one of the catalysts for the club’s success (Image: 2026 James Gill – Danehouse)
virgil van dijk
The Dutchman was effectively signed with the money Liverpool had raised from Coutinho’s departure, but there was still more than enough left over. Van Dijk has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best defenders and has made it clear he intends to leave Southampton, with it becoming clear within weeks of his move to Anfield that he has taken Liverpool to the next level. He was also a great example of perseverance. The Reds wanted to sign the defender in the summer, but waited until January as they were convinced Van Dijk was a player in the team.
Emre Jan
Another example of Liverpool knowing when to release a player. The German player was hoping for a significant pay rise when he entered into contract negotiations with Liverpool, where he was currently active, but it was ultimately an extreme move to give him the same terms as Salah and others. Liverpool chose to terminate his contract and Can bounced around from club to club for the next few years, never reaching those heights again.
mistake
Naby Keita
Probably Klopp’s only major investment that you looked at and thought didn’t work out. He performed, but not at the level many expected after his breakout spell at RB Leipzig. Liverpool signed him in 2017, paying a release clause of £48 million, before joining him a year later. Few would have wanted him when he was suffering a crushing defeat in Germany, but it has to be said that he never seems to have fully established himself in midfield and is perhaps the only blot on Klopp’s signing record.
Darwin Nunez didn’t always live up to the hype (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
darwin nunes
Liverpool pursued the Uruguayan forward, signing him on a six-year contract from Portuguese side Benfica in 2022 for an initial £64m. He had the potential to add to the club’s biggest-ever signing fee, rising to £85m with add-ons, but despite having some high-profile moments, he was vastly underwhelmed. He had scored against Liverpool in the Champions League, but ironically it was his finishing ability and composure that were his biggest weaknesses until he was sent to Saudi Arabia.
Florian Wirtz
The playmaker has signed a British record deal, but ex-Red Jamie Carragher was quick to flag that Liverpool won’t see the Merseysiders paying more than £100m for a player, but rather sees it as a blueprint for Real Madrid. The Reds’ system doesn’t necessarily lend itself to playmakers and, after 12 months at Liverpool, they are still trying to find a suitable position for Wertz. The long wait for his first goal in red also did little to help his difficult start.
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are two of the club’s most expensive signings, but more was expected from both (Image: 2025 DeFodi Images)
alexander isak
There are still many questions surrounding this deal. Liverpool have broken the British transfer record twice in the space of a few weeks. When Isak revealed he wanted to quit Newcastle, they chased him, but they had already signed Hugo Ekitike, who had made a great start to life. So far Isak’s move has been a disaster, with injury limiting his minutes and scoring just four goals, but even when his form improves he looks a shadow of the sensation he saw at St James’ Park.
Ibrahima Konate
After highlighting his ability to discern when to allow a player to leave, sending Konate off for free could age badly. Coach Iraola was already talking about the lack of strength in the back line due to injuries to the defensive line, and Konate’s quality was enough to attract the attention of Real Madrid.
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