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Liverpool have shaken the football world by agreeing a British-record £125 million fee to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United. The deal, which could rise to £130 million with add-ons, signals a dramatic end to one of the summer’s longest transfer sagas and makes the Swedish striker the most expensive signing in Premier League history.
According to BBC Sport, the 25-year-old forward is set to undergo a medical on Monday before putting pen to paper on a six-year contract at Anfield. For Liverpool, it is a statement signing, the kind of headline deal that not only reshapes their attack but also underlines the scale of their summer rebuild.
A saga finally comes to an end
The chase for Isak has dominated the back pages for weeks. Liverpool initially had a £110m bid rejected in early August, but the Reds refused to walk away. With the clock ticking toward deadline day, they returned with a record-breaking offer Newcastle simply could not refuse.
For Isak, the move ends a turbulent summer. After hitting 27 goals in 42 games for Newcastle last season and firing them to Carabao Cup glory, he looked set to be central to Eddie Howe’s plans. Yet a mix of injuries, disagreements, and broken promises soured the relationship. He missed the Magpies’ pre-season tour of Asia with what was officially described as a thigh problem but trained alone in Spain at his former club Real Sociedad.
Isak later released a statement suggesting Newcastle had gone back on their word about allowing him to leave if a top club came calling. The club denied making any such promises, but with tensions rising, it became clear the situation was unsustainable. Newcastle’s decision to sign striker Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart last week was the clearest sign that change was coming.
Liverpool’s bold rebuild
The arrival of Isak takes Liverpool’s spending this summer to around £416m, even before add-ons are factored in. It has been one of the busiest transfer windows in the club’s modern history. Alongside Isak, they have brought in Germany’s highly rated Florian Wirtz in a £100m deal, Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi and Giovanni Leoni.
That level of outlay has been partly balanced by significant departures. Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tyler Morton and Ben Doak have all left, raising about £190m. Even so, the net spend is vast and shows Liverpool’s determination to refresh Jurgen Klopp’s squad and challenge on all fronts.
The spending might not stop here either. Liverpool are working on a move for England defender Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. If that deal goes through, the total outlay this summer could push even higher.
Isak’s record-breaking fee
At £125m, the Isak deal eclipses the £107m Chelsea paid Benfica for Enzo Fernandez in 2023. It also sits above the £115m Chelsea spent on Moises Caicedo and the £105m Arsenal splashed on Declan Rice. Florian Wirtz’s fee, at £100m rising to £116m, was briefly Liverpool’s own transfer record earlier this summer, but Isak’s arrival resets the bar once again.
On a global scale, only Neymar’s £200m move from Barcelona to PSG and Kylian Mbappe’s £165.7m switch to the same club surpass the size of this transfer when judged by initial fee. That puts Isak’s deal ahead of Philippe Coutinho’s £142m move from Liverpool to Barcelona and Ousmane Dembele’s £135.5m switch from Dortmund to Barcelona.
For context, Isak had joined Newcastle just two years ago for £60m from Real Sociedad. His price has more than doubled in that time, reflecting both his growth and the financial muscle of Liverpool’s current recruitment drive.
Why Liverpool wanted Isak
The Swedish international ticks a lot of boxes for Liverpool. At 6ft 4in, he has the physical presence to lead the line in the Premier League but also combines that with pace, technical ability, and a natural goalscoring instinct. His record of 27 goals last season showed he can deliver at the highest level, and crucially, he has proven himself against English opposition.
He is not just a target man. Isak is comfortable dropping deep, linking play, and drifting wide to create space for others. His versatility makes him an ideal fit for Slot’s fluid attacking system. With Darwin Nunez departing, Isak steps in as Liverpool’s new spearhead, supported by an array of creative talent that now includes Florian Wirtz.
How Newcastle reached this point
For Newcastle, the sale is painful but perhaps inevitable. Their Champions League qualification last season raised expectations, but Financial Fair Play restrictions have loomed large. Offloading Isak for a British-record fee gives them breathing room, especially after a summer of spending.
The signing of Nick Woltemade for £65m was a sign that they were preparing for life after Isak. Newcastle will miss his goals and his ability to decide big matches, but the size of the deal makes it easier to understand why the club accepted Liverpool’s offer.
Timeline of the transfer saga
This deal has been anything but straightforward. The story began in May when Isak finished the season as Newcastle’s top scorer. In July, he missed the club’s pre-season tour of the Far East, officially with a thigh injury. By the end of the month, he was training alone in Spain and Liverpool’s interest had been confirmed.
Newcastle rejected Liverpool’s first £110m bid on August 1, and for a time it seemed the Reds might turn to other targets. Yet as weeks went by, Isak remained in exile, training away from the first team and left out of matchday squads. On August 19, he went public with his frustration, accusing Newcastle of breaking promises. The impasse continued until Liverpool returned on September 1 with a £125m bid, which Newcastle finally accepted.
What happens next
All eyes now turn to Anfield, where Isak will undergo his medical and finalise his six-year contract. He is expected to be unveiled early next week and could make his debut shortly after the international break.
For Liverpool, this is more than just a signing. It is a statement of intent, proof they are ready to compete at the very top after a summer of heavy investment. For Newcastle, it marks the end of a chapter with a player who gave them unforgettable memories but ultimately wanted more.
The British transfer record has been broken again, and Alexander Isak is heading to Merseyside. The Premier League landscape has shifted, and Liverpool’s bold rebuild just added its most spectacular piece.
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YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone)!
The Liverpool FC Times Team
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