Liverpool has secured the arrival of Swedish forward Alexander Isak from Newcastle United in a deal valued at £125m, setting a new benchmark for transfers in Britain. Additional clauses could increase the figure to £130m.
The 25-year-old successfully underwent medical checks on Monday before committing to a six-year agreement. His arrival raises the club’s spending in the current window to about £416.2m, excluding performance-related bonuses.
Isak will wear the number nine jersey at Anfield and described the switch as the “next step” in his career. He underlined his ambition to “win silverware” and “make history” with his new team. Liverpool had an earlier £110m bid turned down but finally secured their top target on deadline day, with confirmation announced at 21:30 BST, over two hours after the market had closed.
Newcastle confirm departure with brief statement
The Swedish international previously played a decisive role in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool in March, scoring in a 2-1 triumph that delivered the Magpies their first domestic silverware in seven decades.
Despite that success, he signaled his desire to depart during the summer and did not appear in competitive matches this season. When Newcastle revealed the transfer, the club issued a short 37-word announcement stating his move to Liverpool for a record fee.
Since recruiting Isak from Real Sociedad for £60m in 2022, the striker has produced 27 goals across 42 outings last season and was a central figure in helping the side finish fifth in the league and qualify for the Champions League.
Liverpool’s record-breaking summer business
Liverpool are defending league champions, having lifted the Premier League trophy by a ten-point margin last season. They have started the current campaign with three consecutive victories.
Earlier in the summer, the Merseyside club had already exceeded their previous transfer record by acquiring German playmaker Florian Wirtz for an initial £100m, which could increase by another £16m. Additional signings include Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi, and Giovanni Leoni.
Their total outlay now represents the most expensive window in English football history, surpassing Chelsea’s £401.2m spending in 2023. Departures such as Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tyler Morton, and Ben Doak generated around £190m.
Where the Isak transfer ranks globally
Isak’s £125m switch places him among the most expensive players ever. The previous domestic record was Chelsea’s £107m acquisition of Enzo Fernandez in 2023. Deals for Wirtz, Moises Caicedo, Declan Rice, and Jack Grealish all reached or exceeded £100m, with Caicedo’s package potentially worth £115m.
Worldwide, only Neymar’s £200m move to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in 2017 and Kylian Mbappe’s eventual £165.7m transfer to PSG surpass the fee Liverpool has paid. Isak’s move therefore sits above the amounts Barcelona spent on Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele in 2017–18.
