20 most expensive Liverpool transfers of all time 💰

Liverpool fans are bracing themselves for a new era under manager Arne Slot, who joined Anfield from Feyenoord after Jürgen Klopp stepped down at the end of the 2023/24 season.

With former sporting director, Michael Edwards, now overseeing football operations at FSG, the owners of Liverpool, this summer is set to mark a turning point in the direction at Anfield.

A new era signals change, and change means transfers.

We take a look at the most expensive transfers in the history of Liverpool Football Club, a club which is commonly referred to as a 'club that doesn't spend any money' by their fans.

20. Adam Lallana

Position: Attacking Midfield

Nationality: England

From: Southampton FC (England)

Season: 14/15

Transfer Fee: €31 million

Adam Lallana transferred to Liverpool from Southampton for €31 million in 2014. Known for his technical ability, vision, and work rate, Lallana played a crucial role in Liverpool's midfield creativity. During his tenure, he made 178 appearances and contributed significantly to the team's attacking setups.

19. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Position: Central Midfield

Nationality: England

From: Arsenal FC (England)

Season: 17/18

Transfer Fee: €38 million

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Liverpool from Arsenal for €38 million. The versatile English midfielder added dynamism, pace, and a direct style of play to Liverpool's midfield. Oxlade-Chamberlain's contributions were important in key matches, although injuries affected his consistency. Oxlade-Chamberlain made 101 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 11 goals, before moving to Turkish side Besiktas in 2023.

18. Fernando Torres

Position: Centre-Forward

Nationality: Spain

From: Atlético de Madrid (Spain)

Season: 07/08

Transfer Fee: €38 million

Fernando Torres moved to Liverpool from LaLiga side Atlético de Madrid for €38 million in 2007. The Spanish striker quickly became a fan favourite, known for his pace and clinical finishing. Torres' memorable goals and contributions helped establish Liverpool as a formidable attacking force during his tenure. During his time at Liverpool, Fernando Torres made 102 appearances scoring 65 goals for the Reds. The transfer had turned sour by the end of his time at Anfield, with the player submitting a transfer request to force a move to Premier League rivals Chelsea. Torres moved to Chelsea for €58 million in 2011, which was a British transfer record at the time.

17. Ryan Gravenberch

Position: Central Midfield

Nationality: Netherlands, Suriname

From: Bayern Munich (Germany)

Season: 23/24

Transfer Fee: €40 million

Ryan Gravenberch transferred to Liverpool from Bundesliga side Bayern Munich for €40 million in the 23/24 season. The Dutch midfielder's physical presence, technical ability, and passing range are expected to bolster Liverpool's midfield. Gravenberch is viewed as a promising talent with significant potential.

16. Ibrahima Konaté

Position: Centre-Back

Nationality: France, Mali

From: RB Leipzig (Germany)

Season: 21/22

Transfer Fee: €40 million

Ibrahima Konaté joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig for €40 million in 21/22. The French-Malian defender's athleticism, defensive skills, and ability to play out from the back have added quality and depth to Liverpool's defence. Despite injuries, Konaté is still viewed by those behind the scenes at Anfield as Virgil van Dijk's successor.

15. Andy Carroll

Position: Centre-Forward

Nationality: England

From: Newcastle United (England)

Season: 10/11

Transfer Fee: €41 million

Andy Carroll's move from Newcastle United to Liverpool for €41 million was met with high expectations. Despite his aerial prowess and physicality, Carroll struggled with injuries and consistency, scoring 9 goals in 29 appearances before being sold to West Ham United in 2013 for €18 million after a season-long loan.

14. Roberto Firmino

Position: Centre-Forward

Nationality: Brazil

From: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (Germany)

Season: 15/16

Transfer Fee: €41 million

Roberto Firmino joined Liverpool from Hoffenheim for €41 million. The Brazilian forward's creativity, intelligent movement, and work rate made him a central figure in Liverpool's attack. Firmino's ability to link play and lead the press has been vital to Jürgen Klopp's tactical setup.

13. Sadio Mané

Position: Left Winger

Nationality: Senegal

From: Southampton FC (England)

Season: 16/17

Transfer Fee: €41.2 million

Sadio Mané transferred from Southampton to Liverpool for €41.2 million. The Senegalese winger's pace, dribbling, and goal-scoring prowess made him an integral part of Liverpool's attacking trio. Mané's relentless work ethic and partnership with Salah and Firmino were key to Liverpool's successes.

12. Mohamed Salah

Position: Right Winger

Nationality: Egypt

From: AS Roma (Italy)

Season: 17/18

Transfer Fee: €42 million

Mohamed Salah's €42 million transfer from Serie A side AS Roma to Liverpool was a game-changer. The Egyptian winger quickly became one of the Premier League's most feared attackers, known for his speed, finishing, and ability to create chances. Salah's prolific scoring record has been crucial to Liverpool's success.

11. Cody Gakpo

Position: Left Winger

Nationality: Netherlands, Togo

From: PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)

Season: 22/23

Transfer Fee: €42 million

Cody Gakpo, a talented Dutch winger of Togolese descent, moved to Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven. Gakpo moved to Anfield with much anticipation and hype, and whilst he has not exactly been a sensation thus far, he has shown that he is capable of playing across the front-line, and can impact games. Under compatriot Arne Slot, Liverpool's new manager, Gakpo will be expected to thrive the new-look Liverpool.

10. Alexis Mac Allister

Position: Central Midfield

Nationality: Argentina

From: Brighton & Hove Albion (England)

Season: 23/24

Transfer Fee: €42 million

Liverpool paid a €42 million transfer fee to sign Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton. The midfielder came to Anfield in the summer of 2023, with Liverpool overhauling their midfield at the time by signing Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Endo in the same season. Impressing with his long-range goals and technical ability, World Cup winner, Alexis Mac Allister, was believed to be great value for money at the time of the signing.

9. Diogo Jota

Position: Forward

Nationality: Portugal

From: Wolves (England)

Season: 20/21

Transfer Fee: €44.7 million

Diogo Jota was signed by Liverpool from Wolves for a reported €44.7 million in September 2020. The transfer surprised both Wolves and Liverpool fans at the time, with the forward not exactly prolific in the Premier League for Wolves before his move to Merseyside. But Jota became a scorer of important goals for Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool, and his energy in the press became his most notable trait.

8. Fabinho

Position: Defensive Midfield

Nationality: Brazil

From: AS Monaco (Monaco)

Season: 18/19

Transfer Fee: €45 million

Fabinho arrived from Ligue-1 side AS Monaco for a reported €45 million. The Brazillian arrived at Anfield after 5 years of impressive performances for Ligue-1 side, AS Monaco. Fabinho became a pivotal figure in Jürgen Klopp's Premier League-winning side, creating history at Anfield with his physicality in midfield, affording the more creative players freedom to play and press more aggressively.

7. Christian Benteke

Position: Centre-Forward

Nationality: Belgium, DR Congo

From: Aston Villa (England)

Season: 15/16

Transfer Fee: €46.5 million

Christian Benteke, the powerful Belgian striker, made his move to Liverpool from Aston Villa in what was then a club-record fee paid by Liverpool for a player. The €46.5 million transfer of Benteke from Villa to Liverpool came after the striker had contributed 49 goals in 101 games for Aston Villa. His time at Liverpool was marked by inconsistency, Benteke scored just 9 goals in 29 games before being sold on to Crystal Palace where he showed similar levels of inconsistency.

6. Luis Díaz

Position: Left Winger

Nationality: Colombia

From: FC Porto (Portugal)

Season: 21/22

Transfer Fee: €47 million

Liverpool don't typically do business in the January transfer window, so when they decided to move to sign Luis Díaz in the winter window of 2022, it came as a surprise. Díaz joined Liverpool from Primeira Liga side FC Porto for a reported €47 million transfer fee in January 2022 after impressing in Liga Portugal with 14 goals and 4 assists in just half a season for FC Porto.

5. Naby Keïta

Position: Central Midfield

Nationality: Guinea

From: RB Leipzig (Germany)

Season: 18/19

Transfer Fee: €60 million

Guinean midfielder known for his energy and box-to-box style, Naby Keïta, was signed by Liverpool from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig for €60 million. Despite facing injury setbacks, Keïta became a well-loved player at Anfield with his ability to drive forward, break lines, and contribute both defensively and offensively to Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp's title-winning midfield.

4. Alisson

Position: Goalkeeper

Nationality: Brazil

From: AS Roma (Italy)

Season: 18/19

Transfer Fee: €62.5 million

Alisson, a Brazilian goalkeeper renowned for his shot-stopping and distribution, joined Liverpool from Serie A side AS Roma for €62.5 million in the summer of 2018. Alisson's commanding presence and ability to make crucial saves have solidified Liverpool's defence, pivotal in their domestic and European success.

3. Dominik Szoboszlai

Position: Central Midfield

Nationality: Hungary

From: RB Leipzig (Germany)

Season: 23/24

Transfer Fee: €70 million

Hungarian attacking midfielder, Dominik Szoboszlai, was tracked and wanted by multiple clubs in the summer of 2023 after an impressive season for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. Szoboszlai eventually chose to sign for Liverpool for a reported €70 million, citing his adoration of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard as a key driver for the move.

2. Virgil van Dijk

Position: Centre-Back

Nationality: Netherlands, Suriname

From: Southampton FC (England)

Season: 17/18

Transfer Fee: €84.65 million

Virgil van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton for a reported €84.65 million, and has made 196 appearances for the Merseyside club. Van Dijk, who has journeyed through teams like Groningen and Celtic, has proven to be worth every penny that made him the most expensive Dutch defender since Jaap Stam.

1. Darwin Núñez

Position: Centre-Forward

Nationality: Uruguay

From: SL Benfica (Portugal)

Season: 22/23

Transfer Fee: €75 million (plus €25 million in add-ons)

Darwin Núñez is Liverpool's most expensive signing of all time, after signing from Primeira Liga side Benfica for a reported €75 million (plus €25 million in add-ons) on 13 June 2022. Núñez's high-profile move to Liverpool from SL Benfica was met with excitement at Anfield, with the striker having a prolific last season in Liga Portugal scoring 26 goals and assisting 4 times in 28 games.

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