Liverpool’s 27 most expensive transfers and record signings of all time including Van Dijk and Carroll

The top 27 most expensive transfers that Liverpool have agreed to including the Reds’ club record moves to secure the signings of Andy Carroll and Virgil van Dijk at Anfield.

A lot of money has gone into developing the first-team at Liverpool during recent years. The Merseyside outfit have regularly sanctioned high-priced deals under their various managers, with several of their most expensive transfers even signing for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp.

Yet not every big investment has paid off for the Anfield natives with high-priced players like Carroll failing to live up to his price tag. Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish signed the striker in January 2011 to help replace Fernando Torres. But Carroll only scored 11 goals in 58 outings.

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Liverpool’s most expensive transfers and record signings

A few signings by Rafa Benitez and Brendan Rodgers also sit amongst the most expensive transfers Liverpool have secured. But while FSG has often signed off on big-ticket captures at Anfield, the fees for very few signings under the club’s previous owners still rank highly.

So, with that in mind, Rousing The Kop has taken a look at the most expensive transfers that Liverpool have ever agreed to, with an in-depth gaze at the top five deals they have sealed…

5) Naby Keita (from RB Leipzig) – £53m

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Liverpool initially agreed to a deal to sign Naby Keita from RB Leipzig in August 2017. But the terms of the transfer saw the Guinea midfielder stay at the Bundesliga team for the 2017/18 season. It also meant Keita ultimately cost Liverpool £53m to finalise his signing in July 2018.

Keita cost Liverpool £53m after helping RB Leipzig to seal a sixth-place finish in the German top-flight. Had Die Roten Bullen achieved qualification into the Champions League, he would have cost £59m. Similarly, Keita would have cost just £48m if RB Leipzig slipped to seventh.

Injuries ensured that Keita never managed to justify the price tag with Liverpool, though. He left Anfield as a free agent in June 2023 and returned to Germany with Werder Bremen after just 129 appearances. He also only started in 77 fixtures, including 49 in the Premier League.

While the midfielder offered the occasional flash of his class, those highlight moments came too thin and far between. Keita only played in 84 of his potential 152 Premier League games on Merseyside. Liverpool rarely saw the skills they invested so heavily in and waited to sign.

4) Dominik Szoboszlai (from RB Leipzig) – £60m

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Liverpool looked to refresh their midfield with Dominik Szoboszlai in July 2023, so triggered a £60m release clause in his contract for RB Leipzig. The Hungary captain brought a creative threat to Merseyside after recording 20 goals and 22 assists in 91 matches in Germany, too.

Szoboszlai quickly established himself as an essential part of the Reds’ engine room, as well. His versatility to operate anywhere in their midfield and produce exquisite goals offered the Merseyside outfit a classy operator. Szoboszlai even drew comparisons with Steven Gerrard.

“He reminded me of Steven Gerrard to a certain extent because you don’t necessarily get box-to-box midfield players who can defend, who can attack [and] that’s what he does.” Reds icon John Barnes told talkSPORT in November 2023.

3) Alisson Becker (from AS Roma) – £58m

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Liverpool sealed one of their most expensive transfers in July 2018 as Alisson Becker signed from AS Roma for a world record fee for a goalkeeper. The Serie A side confirmed the Reds paid €62.5m (£58m), plus €10m (£9m) in performance-related add-ons, for the Brazilian.

Chelsea quickly usurped the fee by signing Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao a mere 21 days later. But the Blues never saw anything close to what Alisson brought to Liverpool with the Spaniard. Alisson would be a transformative signing for Klopp as one of the world’s best.

Alisson arrived at Anfield straight after Liverpool had endured a nightmare with Loris Karius in the Champions League final. Yet the Brazilian put any thoughts of the German’s struggles in the rear-view mirror as he offered the Reds a real calmness and sublime one-vs-one skills.

2) Darwin Nunez (from SL Benfica) – £64m

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SL Benfica held Liverpool to ransom in June 2022 as the Reds agreed to what could become their record transfer for the expensive signing of Darwin Nunez. The striker switched Lisbon for Liverpool for an initial €75m (£64m), rising to a colossal €100m (£85m) after all add-ons.

Nunez had put Europe on alert during the 2021/22 season by scoring 34 goals in 41 games, including six in 10 Champions League ties. He even scored twice against FC Barcelona, once against Bayern Munich and twice against Liverpool over Benfica’s route to the quarter-final.

Yet in a Liverpool shirt, Nunez has often struggled to offer a consistent goal threat. He often labours in the attack to find the target or test the opposition’s goalkeeper. If Nunez enjoys a second to think about a chance, the Uruguayan – who can create chaos – tends to crumble.

1) Virgil van Dijk (from Southampton) – £75m

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Liverpool secured their most expensive signing and one of their most important additions in January 2018 when Virgil van Dijk joined from Southampton for a club record £75m. Anfield chiefs finalised an agreement with the Saints for the defender’s services in December 2017.

Van Dijk had come close to joining Liverpool in the previous summer window. But he more than made up for the prolonged wait by becoming one of Europe’s best centre-halves. Few strikers could beat the Dutchman in a one-vs-one fight as he led the Reds’ line imperiously.

The ACL injury that Van Dijk sustained at Everton in October 2020 ultimately took its toll on him. At his peak, the defender was the ultimate enforcer on Merseyside. But Van Dijk lost a step during his lengthy rehabilitation, yet still became an immense captain during 2023/24.

Liverpool’s top 27 most expensive transfer signings of all time

Below, Rousing The Kop lists the top 27 most expensive transfers that Liverpool have to date ever agreed to based only on the initial fees paid for the players’ signings before all add-ons.

22) Thiago Alcantara(from Bayern Munich) – September 2020 – £20m plus £5m in add-ons

22) Dejan Lovren (from Southampton) – July 2014 – £20m

22) Lazar Markovic (from SL Benfica) – July 2014 – £20m

22)Stuart Downing (from Aston Villa) – July 2011 – £20m

22) Alberto Aquilani (from AS Roma) – August 2009 – £20m

22) Fernando Torres (from Atletico Madrid) – July 2007 – £20m

21)Luis Suarez(from AFC Ajax) – January 2011 – £23m

19) Georginio Wijnaldum(from Newcastle United) – July 2016 – £25m

19) Adam Lallana (from Southampton) – July 2014 – £25m

18) Roberto Firmino (from TSG Hoffenheim) – June 2015 – £29m

17) Christian Benteke (from Aston Villa) – July 2015 – £32.5m

15) Mohamed Salah (from AS Roma) – July 2017 – £34m

15) Sadio Mane (from Southampton) – June 2016 – £34m

14) Ryan Gravenberch (from Bayern Munich – September 2023 – £34.5m

10) Alexis Mac Allister (from Brighton) – June 2023 – £35m plus £20m in add-ons

10) Cody Gakpo (from PSV Eindhoven) – January 2023 – £35m plus £9m in add-ons

10) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (from Arsenal) – August 2017 – £35m

10) Andy Carroll (from Newcastle United) – January 2011 – £35m

9) Ibrahima Konate (from RB Leipzig) – July 2021 – £36m

8) Luis Diaz (from FC Porto) – January 2022 – £37.5m plus £12.5m in add-ons

7) Fabinho (from AS Monaco) – July 2018 – £39.5m plus £5.5m after add-ons

6) Diogo Jota (from Wolves) – September 2020 – £41m plus £4m in add-ons

5) Naby Keita (from RB Leipzig) – July 2018 – £53m

4) Dominik Szoboszlai (from RB Leipzig) – July 2023 – £60m

3) Alisson Becker (from AS Roma) – July 2018 – £58m plus £9m in add-ons

2) Darwin Nunez (from SL Benfica) – June 2022 – £64m plus £21m in add-ons

1) Virgil van Dijk (from Southampton) – January 2018 – £75m