Dominik Szoboszlai, the Hungarian international agreed a five-year contract with the Reds for £60 million.
Dominik Szoboszlai is now an official Liverpool player, with the thrilling task of carrying on the heritage of one of the club’s most renowned shirts.
The Hungary international landed on Merseyside on Saturday for a medical, which he passed with flying colors, and has signed a contract extension until June 2028 after Liverpool activated his £60 million release clause to buy him from RB Leipzig.
Szoboszlai will be expected to add a different dimension to Jurgen Klopp’s midfield, and he will wear number 8 – the shirt synonymous with Steven Gerrard; Liverpool fans will be hoping the 22-year-old has far more success in it than Naby Keita, who made the same move from the Bundesliga to Anfield in 2018.
Klopp has been following Szoboszlai’s growth for some time, and Liverpool made a bid for him after considering Mason Mount for the post.
‘The last three or four days were quite lengthy; it was not easy. But, in the end, I’m here, happy, and eager to start.
‘[A] highly historic club, with really excellent players and a terrific coach. It was ideal for me to take the next step at a club like this. Everything is fantastic, including the spectators and the stadium.’
He explained that he chose the No. 8 shirt since he got a Gerrard tattoo as a child after being a fan of the Reds star.
‘I have a Steven Gerrard tattoo, that’s why,’ he explained.
‘To be honest, I didn’t watch much football as a youngster, but when it was Champions League, I watched, and he was one of the top (players).’
Dominik Szoboszlai joins the Reds
Klopp expressed his excitement about his new signing’s immediate and long-term influence.
‘We already have a little understanding of Dominik as an opponent since we had a number of pretty tough games against Red Bull Salzburg when he was a player there, and I believe everyone who saw those matches would have understood that he was a highly fascinating potential even at that time,’ he added.
‘I believe he was only a youngster at the time, and since then he has made some significant leaps, going to Leipzig, doing really well in the Bundesliga, playing for the Hungary national team, and then becoming captain of his national team at an exceptionally early age.
I won’t say much about them at this moment, other that they are unquestionably the sort that will ideally supply us with a lot of pleasure while also supporting us in attaining results.
‘There is, however, no pressure. Dominik is still a somewhat inexperienced player. He has a lot of growth ahead of him, so it makes sense for us all to be patient and give him the time and space he needs to shine within our team.’
‘Everything about this is excellent news,’ he continued, and he thanked everyone at the club who helped make it happen.
‘This is a signing for our present as well as our future, and the work that has gone into it cannot be appreciated enough.’
After the Reds used his release clause the night before, Szoboszlai arrived in Merseyside for his physical on Saturday.
He underwent the initial series of examinations prior to signing his deal after traveling into Liverpool on a private plane.
Dominik Szoboszlai to wear no.8 Jersey
Szoboszlai is projected to earn far more than the £80,000 per week he was making in Germany. The kid scored in Leipzig’s 2-0 win over Frankfurt to help them win the German Cup. He had 10 goals and eight assists in 46 games across all competitions.
After signing Naby Keita and Ibrahima Konate from Leipzig, Liverpool had strong relations with them. Fabio Carvalho was loaned out for the season on Friday.
Szoboszlai began his senior career with Liefering before signing with Red Bull Salzburg in 2018 and joining Leipzig in 2021.
While with Salzburg, he won the Austrian Cup three times and the Austrian Championship four times. Since transferring to Leipzig, he has twice won the DFB-Pokal. He will provide Klopp’s team diversity because he can play both centrally and out wide.
Szoboszlai may not be the Reds’ last midfield acquisition this summer, as the club has also been connected with Southampton’s Romeo Lavia and Nice’s Khephren Thuram.
