The 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 in recent years. The Merseyside outfit have regularly sanctioned high-priced deals under their various managers, with several of their most expensive transfers even signing under current boss Arne Slot.
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) Virgil van Dijk (from Southampton) – £75m
Eyebrows were raised when back in 2018 when Liverpool decided to fork out a then-record £75m for a centre-back.
Fast forward to 2025, and it’s fair to say that Virgil van Dijk has proven every single one of his doubters wrong.
The now Liverpool captain has been a transformative figure at Anfield, being a key player in the Reds winning their first two Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League.
4) Hugo Ekitike (from Eintracht Frankfurt) – £79m
One of the many major signings Liverpool made in the 2025 summer transfer window, Hugo Ekitike earned a £79m move to Anfield thanks to his fantastic performances in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt.
And while other new signings haven’t quite hit the ground running, the young French forward has impressed in the first few months of his Reds career.
There’s certainly more to come from Ekitike too.
3) Darwin Nunez (from Benfica) – £85m
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 often struggled to offer a consistent goal threat. And while he became a bit of a cult hero thanks to his work ethic up top, the striker was sold in the summer of 2025 for £46.2m to Al Hilal.
2) Florian Wirtz (from Bayer Leverkusen) – £116m
A lot was expected of Florian Wirtz when he was signed for a then-club record £116m from Bayer Leverkusen.
The attacking midfielder has been one of the most exciting players in Europe for the last number of years, guiding Leverkusen to a remarkable Bundesliga title win in 2023/2024.
Since the move, Wirtz has yet to really set Anfield alight and show what he’s fully capable of. There’s no doubt that, if given time to settle in, the German international can become a key player for Liverpool in years to come.
1) Alexander Isak (from Newcastle United) – £125m
The biggest signing not just in Liverpool’s history, but in Premier League history, the club snapped up Alexander Isak for a whopping £125m late in the summer transfer window.
Isak was remarkably good during his time at Newcastle United, netting 54 Premier League goals in 86 games and helping the club to a Carabao Cup triumph.
That form is yet to be shown at Anfield, but Isak has the ability to be brilliant once he settles into Arne Slot’s side.
Liverpool’s top 15 most expensive transfer signings of all time
Below, Rousing The Kop lists the top 15 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.
15) Ibrahima Konate (from RB Leipzig) – July 2021 – £36m
14) Milos Kerkez (from Bournemouth) – June 2025 – £40m
13) Fabinho (from Monaco) – July 2018 – £43.7m
12) Mohamed Salah (from AS Roma) – July 2017 – £43.9m
11) Cody Gakpo (from PSV Eindhoven) – January 2023 – £44m
10) Diogo Jota (from Wolves) – September 2020 – £45m
9) Luis Diaz (from Porto) – January 2022 – £50m
8) Naby Keita (from RB Leipzig) – July 2018 – £52.75m
7) Dominik Szboszlai (from RB Leipzig) – July 2023 – £60.1m
6) Alisson Becker (from AS Roma) – July 2018 – £65m
5) Virgil van Dijk (from Southampton) – January 2019 – £75m
4) Hugo Ekitike (from Eintracht Frankfurt) – July 2025 – £79m
3) Darwin Nunez (from Benfica) – June 2022 – £85m
2) Florian Wirtz (from Bayer Leverkusen) – June 2025 – £116m
1) Alexander Isak (from Newcastle United – September 2025 – £125m
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