Liverpool wrapped up the transfer window event with a British transfer record signing of Alexander Isak on deadline day.

The Premier League champions have had an exceptional window, and they have improved their squad substantially. They also managed to offload some fringe players and recoup a respectable sum from their departures.

Here at Hard Tackle, we take a closer look at the business they conducted this summer. Liverpool entered the summer transfer window needing a quality striker who could finish chances and consistently find the back of the net. Darwin Nunez was quite underwhelming last season, scoring just seven goals in all competitions. Liverpool managed to win the league title, but their lack of a clinical striker cost them in the UEFA Champions League. Liverpool needed to resolve that issue and admirably did so by signing Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak.

Isak has been the best striker in the Premier League in recent seasons, and Ekitike was outstanding for Frankfurt last season. The French international has hit the ground running at Liverpool and has performed well so far.

Both players addressed a key weakness in Liverpool’s side, and it will be interesting to see if they can build on their success from last season.

Meanwhile, Liverpool managed to cash in on some first-team players surplus to requirements. The likes of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Harvey Elliott, and Jarell Quansah were all shown the door, and Liverpool managed to recoup substantial sums from their sales. This helped balance the books and decreased the net spend for the champions.

Although Liverpool spent the most money in the Premier League this summer, they rank second to Arsenal in terms of net spend. They managed to sell players worth around £228 million this summer.

Liverpool have excelled at balancing the books in recent seasons, often acting as masterful sellers in the market alongside Chelsea. Once again, they flipped some players for eye-watering amounts. Jarell Quansah was sold for £30 million, Ben Doak fetched £25 million, and Harvey Elliott departed with an obligation to buy set at £35 million.

Ins and Outs

Given their transfer spending and approach over the last few seasons, very few would have expected Liverpool to break their transfer record twice in one window. First, they signed Florian Wirtz for a British transfer record fee, and then broke it again for Isak. The fullback positions have been improved with the signings of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. Central defence has gained depth with Giovanni Leoni’s arrival.

Caoimhin Kelleher was replaced by Giorgi Mamardashvili. Freddie Woodman and Armin Pecsi also bolster the squad. In terms of departures, key exits include Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Additionally, academy graduates like Tyler Morton were sold.

Transfers In

• Alexander Isak – £125m – Newcastle

• Florian Wirtz – £116m – Bayer Leverkusen

• Hugo Ekitike – £79m – Frankfurt

• Milos Kerkez – £40m – Bournemouth

• Jeremie Frimpong – £29.5m – Bayer Leverkusen

• Giorgi Mamardashvili – £29m – Valencia

• Giovanni Leoni – £26m – Parma

• Armin Pecsi – £1.5m – Puskas Akademia

• Will Wright – £200,000 – Salford City

• Freddie Woodman – Free Transfer – Preston

Transfers Out

• Luis Diaz – £65.6m – Bayern Munich

• Darwin Nunez – £46m – Al-Hilal

• Jarell Quansah – £35m – Bayer Leverkusen

• Ben Doak – £25m – Bournemouth

• Caoimhin Kelleher – £18m – Brentford

• Tyler Morton – £15m – Lyon

• Trent Alexander-Arnold – £8.4m – Real Madrid

• Nat Phillips – £3m – West Brom

Total transfers out: £216m

Loaned Players

• Harvey Elliott (loan-to-buy deal, £35m next summer) – Aston Villa

• Kostas Tsimikas – Roma

• Vitezslav Jaros – Ajax

• James McConnell – Ajax

• Lewis Koumas – Birmingham City

• Luca Stephenson – Dundee United

• Owen Beck – Derby

• Harvey Davies – Crawley Town

• Isaac Mabaya – Wigan Athletic

• James Balagizi – Forest Green Rovers

• James Norris – Shelbourne (until Nov 2025)

Marquee Signing

Alexander Isak

The Swedish international joined the club in a deal worth around £125 million. He is expected to transform Liverpool’s attacking unit, which struggled to score goals last season. Signing the best striker in the Premier League should solve that problem, as Isak scored 23 goals in the league last season, second only to Mohamed Salah.

He is undoubtedly the jewel in Liverpool’s crown this summer, and it will be interesting to see if he can make an instant impact at the club. Isak knows the league well from his time at Newcastle United and is expected to hit the ground running. Liverpool also spent significantly on Florian Wirtz, but the German is still young and needs time to develop. Isak is now the man of the hour, expected to guide Liverpool to major trophies.

Value for Money Signing

Giovanni Leoni

The Italian drew attention for his performances at Parma and is an exceptional acquisition for the long term. Liverpool signed him this summer, which could prove to be a wise investment. He is among the top young talents in European football and could develop into a top-class player. Leoni demonstrated quality and composure against seasoned veterans in the Italian league, and he will aim to make his mark in the Premier League now.

With the physical and technical attributes to succeed in England, he could become the ideal long-term replacement for club captain Virgil van Dijk.

Inevitable Departure

Darwin Nunez

Liverpool paid a substantial fee to sign Nunez from Benfica, but he never quite lived up to expectations. Although he was a quality player and contributed to Liverpool’s success, he lacked consistent finishing. The club needed a clinical striker, and a move away was inevitable for the Uruguayan international. He had been linked with an exit since last season, and Liverpool finally decided to cash in.

The Big Miss

Marc Guehi

Liverpool will be disappointed to have missed out on the Crystal Palace captain this summer. They had an agreement with Crystal Palace, but the deal fell through after the Eagles could not secure a replacement. Guehi had completed his medical and was ready to join Liverpool. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool returns for him in January; he could be available for a nominal fee then or as a free agent next summer. It is fair to say the move for Guehi has been delayed, not denied.

Verdict: 9/10

Liverpool have solved all major problems during the summer transfer window, and few can question their business so far. They have won their first three Premier League matches, and most new signings have shown promising signs. While missing a central defender like Guehi is a concern, Liverpool have enough defensive depth to get through to January, when they can sign the 25-year-old international.

For now, the 2025-26 summer transfer window is quite possibly the best Liverpool have had in a long time.