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Liverpool has confirmed the signing of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for a British record transfer fee of £125million ($169M).
The Swedish striker’s arrival ends months of speculation surrounding his future, with Isak essentially downing tools at Newcastle to try and force through a move to Anfield. The 25-year-old has not played in any of the Magpies’ three games this season and has been forced to train away from the rest of the squad in recent weeks.
He criticized the club publicly on social media and claimed that promises were broken regarding his future. It led to a furious reaction inside Newcastle, with executives unable to persuade Isak to reconsider his plans to leave.
A £110million ($149M) offer was turned back by Newcastle last month. As the weeks dragged by no agreement was reached between the clubs, in a transfer saga that ultimately fostered resentment from those in the north-east.
But talks remained ongoing in the background and those negotiations stepped up over the weekend, with an agreement finally reached for a British record transfer fee.
The $169M deal, which is a straight fee with no add-ons, eclipses the $107M ($149M) transfer of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica to Chelsea in 2023.
Some reports have claimed the price equates to £130M ($176M), but that, it is understood, includes solidarity payments to Newcastle which will save the club around £5M ($7M).
Isak underwent his medical on Monday at Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre and has signed a six-year deal on Merseyside.
For Liverpool, his transfer is a statement of intent in a window where the club has already broken its transfer record to sign Florian Wirtz. In capturing Isak, it has acquired the best striker on the market, while also justifying the decision to remain patient in its pursuit of the former Real Sociedad man.
The forward becomes Liverpool’s eight first-team arrival of the summer and brings the summer spend up to around $420M ($569M) following the signings of Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman, Jeremie Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni, Milos Kerkez, Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike.
The latter will provide stiff competition for Isak after impressing since his arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt. He has netted in each of his first three games, but will likely play second fiddle given Isak’s astronomical transfer fee.
Isak has netted 54 times in 86 Premier League games and is widely regarded among the best strikers in Europe.
After securing his move to Liverpool, the attacker will meet up with the Sweden squad ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Kosovo.
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