Liverpool have officially signed Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United on a six-year deal, thus ending a long, drawn-out saga.

Liverpool have officially announced the arrival of Alexander Isak on deadline day following the end of one of the longest sagas in English transfer history. The Reds have secured the Swedish striker on a six-year deal, and will pay Newcastle United a British transfer record of £125 million.

Liverpool stayed in the Alexander Isak fight and kept up with the chase, while Newcastle United dug deep to give themselves a good chance to keep the Swede. The whole saga got complicated with each passing day, and the striker went on strike.

Isak made it abundantly clear that he will not play for Newcastle United anymore and continued to push to get a deal with Liverpool. The Merseysiders saw their first bid worth a reported £110 million rejected by the Magpies out of hand, and while they were not expected to return with a new bid, things have gone their way in the past 24 hours.

Liverpool and Newcastle United re-opened talks, and found an agreement to the tune of the Merseysiders paying £125 million. With Isak reportedly giving up solidarity payments, Newcastle United insist the deal is worth £130 million for them. Isak will sign a six-year deal at Anfield and is expected to be their long-term striker option. He has expressed his delight at completing the move.

Isak said, “I feel amazing. It’s been a long journey to get here. But I’m super-happy to be a part of this team, this club and everything it stands for. It’s something I’m proud of and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m just happy it’s done and that I can get back to work. I’m looking forward to seeing my teammates and the fans, and getting back out there.”

In the end, Isak will play for Liverpool, and he will also become the British record signing. The Merseysiders have finally completed their long-awaited target for their priority target and cap off the summer window in style, albeit after missing out on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.

Liverpool’s smashing summer window

Liverpool have acted every bit like champions in their efforts to strengthen the title-winning squad, with some terrific signings coming through the door. They spent a then-club-record sum to bring Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen amid stellar competition from the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

They have also strengthened their full-back areas with the captures of Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, while Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni also arrived. Hugo Ekitike was signed in another huge deal from Eintracht Frankfurt, while Giorges Mamardashvili’s arrival was pre-arranged last summer. In terms of departures, Luis Diaz, Jorrel Quansah, and Darwin Nunez were some high-profile exits, but the attacking signings have covered for those losses.