Liverpool's 6 best free transfers this century including 183-goal hero

Liverpool spent around $600 million on signings last summer to bolster Arne Slot's squad, but some of the Reds' best players cost absolutely nothing in transfer fees

Rafael Benitez brought Robbie Fowler back to Anfield(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool's transfer dealings have been under the microscope following a less-than-stellar title defense.

The Reds splashed out around $600 million to overhaul a squad that clinched the Premier League title with relative ease the previous year. Big-money signings like Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike were brought in, among others, but few have lived up to their hefty price tags during a challenging season for Arne Slot.

The Reds have once again opened their purse strings, agreeing to sign Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, who will stay with the Ligue 1 side for the remainder of the season before making his move to Anfield in the summer.

As Liverpool continues to spend big, it's worth noting that some of the club's best acquisitions have come at no cost. Liverpool.com takes a look back at some of the Reds' top free transfers...

James Milner

Arguably the most successful free agent signing in Liverpool's history, James Milner had already amassed a 13-year Premier League career before he made the switch to Merseyside from Manchester City in 2015. Despite being offered a new contract by City, he was keen to play in central midfield rather than continue in a wide role, which had been his primary position at the Manchester club.

Following discussions with Brendan Rodgers, who assured him he would feature in his favored position, Milner jumped at the opportunity and was quickly named vice-captain alongside Jordan Henderson, who inherited the armband after Steven Gerrard's summer switch to LA Galaxy.

Milner established himself as a key player during Liverpool's most triumphant period since the 1980s, securing every major trophy at the club bar the Europa League throughout an eight-year spell. Among his haul of 26 goals and 45 assists for Liverpool, he established the record for most assists in a single Champions League season during 2018-19 with 11 - a milestone that stands to this day.

Joel Matip

Joel Matip secured a four-year pre-contract agreement with the Reds in February 2016 as his Schalke deal ran down. Prior to his arrival, Liverpool's defense had come under intense scrutiny with Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho, and Martin Skrtel failing to impress, but Matip's composed and confident presence at the core of the defense earned him plaudits.

Joel Matip remains a popular figure at Anfield(Image: Getty Images)

Virgil van Dijk's signing in 2018 provided Matip with a world-class centre-back partner as the pair formed an imposing defensive partnership. Despite his dependable performances, ongoing fitness issues meant he appeared in a limited capacity during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, clocking up just 25 appearances across both campaigns.

Matip regained his fitness during the 2021-22 campaign, becoming Van Dijk's regular defensive partner as Liverpool pursued an unprecedented quadruple, ultimately securing a domestic cup double. His final two seasons on Merseyside were plagued by injuries before his contract expired during the summer of 2024, following which he confirmed his retirement from soccer.

Robbie Fowler

Revered as 'God' by the Kop faithful, Robbie Fowler left Anfield in 2001 as the club's leading Premier League scorer with 120 top-flight strikes and 171 goals in total. Gerard Houllier's tactical preference for pairing Michael Owen and Emile Heskey up front left the former England international short of playing time, whilst a deteriorating relationship with the French manager led to a switch to Leeds.

After an 18-month spell at Elland Road, Fowler transferred to Manchester City, where he spent three-and-a-half years before making a sensational return to Anfield in January 2006.

Although Fowler wasn't technically a free agent, City willingly permitted his departure without a transfer fee to rejoin his beloved club. Despite managing only 39 outings and scoring 12 goals during his second stint, bringing his overall Liverpool total to 183, a new generation of fans had the opportunity to witness Fowler don the iconic red shirt once more.

Markus Babbel

The German arrived at Liverpool in 2000 as an accomplished winner. Among his 11 medals prior to joining the Reds was a Euro 96 triumph. Babbel was so committed to joining the club that he rejected Real Madrid, having already given his word to Houllier. He became a regular fixture in his debut season, appearing in 60 matches and starting every Premier League and UEFA Cup fixture.

The defender secured three trophies in his opening campaign, lifting the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup to bolster his already impressive medal haul. His success continued with the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup the following season before circumstances took a devastating turn.

Babbel was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome and managed just six appearances in his second season. GBS is a rare nervous system disorder that can result in paralysis and, in extreme cases, be life-threatening. He lost the capacity to lift his legs and was restricted to a wheelchair, remaining out of action for almost an entire year. Although he successfully returned to the pitch in August 2002, Babbel was never quite the same player after his struggle with GBS, making only seven further appearances for Liverpool before moving to Stuttgart in 2004.

Gary McAllister

Gary McAllister joined Liverpool in 2000 on a free transfer from Coventry at the age of 35, but he left a lasting impression on the Anfield faithful during a two-year stint. The midfielder turned out to be a key player for Houllier, who lauded the Scotsman as his "most inspirational signing."

McAllister made 49 appearances as Liverpool clinched a treble of trophies, scoring several unforgettable goals, including his remarkable 44-yard free-kick winner against Everton in the dying moments of the game.

He also netted a crucial penalty against Barcelona in the UEFA Cup semifinal and played a significant role in Liverpool's thrilling 5-4 victory over Alaves in the European final, contributing one goal and three assists.

Adrian

Despite only making 26 appearances during his five-year stint at the club, the Spanish goalkeeper can boast of helping secure silverware in just his second appearance.

Adrian's second match for Liverpool was the 2019 UEFA Super Cup final against Chelsea, a game that went into extra time and penalties after a 2-2 draw at the end of 120 minutes. The ex-West Ham keeper became the star of the show when he saved Tammy Abraham's penalty, securing Liverpool's fourth Super Cup win.

His exceptional performance and vital penalty save led to Jurgen Klopp's famous shout of "Adrian" - echoing Rocky Balboa calling out to his wife, who coincidentally has the same name as the goalkeeper. Despite playing in only two matches during his last three seasons at Anfield, Adrian remained a fan favorite and well-liked among his teammates.