Updated at 16.44
LIVERPOOL CONFIRMED the signing of Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig on Sunday after paying the Hungarian’s €70-million (£60 million) release clause.
The 22-year-old will further bolster the Reds’ midfield options after the arrival of Argentine World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister last month.
“The last three or four days went really long; it was not that easy. But at the end, I’m here, I’m happy and I can’t wait to get started,” Szoboszlai told Liverpool’s website.
“A really historic club, really good players, good coach, everything is good. For me it was perfect to make the next step in a club like this. The fans, the stadium, everything is really good.”
Liverpool were in the market to refresh their midfield after a fifth-place finish in the Premier League last season saw them miss out on Champions League qualification for the first time in seven years.
Midfielders James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all left the club when their contracts expired at the end of last season.
Szoboszlai will inherit the number eight jersey vacated by Keita to follow in the footsteps of one of his childhood heroes Steven Gerrard.
“I have a tattoo from Steven Gerrard,” he added. “When I was a child, to be honest, I didn’t watch that much football, but when it was Champions League, I watched and he was one of the biggest.”
Szoboszlai scored 20 goals and provided 22 assists in 91 games for Leipzig since joining in January 2021 as he helped them to win the German Cup and finish in the top four of the Bundesliga for the past two seasons.
“It has been an intense and above all successful few years at RB Leipzig,” Szoboszlai said in a statement released by Leipzig.
“I have met lots of people on and off the pitch who have really helped me in my development. I matured in Leipzig and have been able to learn a lot, so I have a lot to thank the club for.”
Szoboszlai is the second Leipzig star to make a big-money move to the Premier League in recent weeks following Christopher Nkunku’s arrival at Chelsea.
And there could be an even bigger deal to come with Manchester City reportedly keen on a deal for Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol that could make the Croatian the world’s most expensive defender.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s new-look strikeforce is taking shape after the Blues confirmed the signing of Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal on Friday.
The Senegal international has signed an eight-year deal at Stamford Bridge after impressing in La Liga last season with 12 goals in 26 appearances.
Jackson, 22, will cost a reported £32 million (€37 million).
Chelsea’s co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: “We are excited to welcome Nicolas to Chelsea. He is a young player with big potential, as he showcased for Villarreal last season.
“We believe he is ready for this next step in his career and look forward to him working with our new head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, and his Chelsea teammates.”
Chelsea have been busy in the first few weeks of the transfer window as they were forced to move on a number of players to meet financial fair play regulations after splashing over £500 million on new signings last season.
Kai Havertz has crossed London to join Arsenal, Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly joined the exodus of stars from Europe to Saudi Arabia, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek joined AC Milan on Friday.
A deal has also been agreed between Chelsea and Manchester United for the sale of Mason Mount.
Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League last season, their lowest placing since 1994.
