Liverpool Record Transfers All Time: The Top 20

The Reds' 2023 summer rebuild ended with the captures of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch, but do those players rank in the Liverpool record transfers of all time?Three of the four do rank among Liverpool's most expensive ever transfers — a statement of intent from the FSG ownership who have faced criticism for a perceived lack of willingness to dig deep into their pockets and invest appropriately in recent seasons.

Often unable to compete with their rivals on pure financial terms, Liverpool's general M.O. in the market under FSG has been to spend smart rather than big, as they often look to sign players the club can make into superstars rather than buying ready-made ones.

As a case in point, not one of the top 10 biggest transfers in Premier League history is a signing made by the Reds.

But just who are the most expensive signings in Liverpool's history? Here's a rundown of the top 20:

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20. Georginio Wijnaldum - £25m (Newcastle, 2016)

Perhaps a little under-appreciated by some during his time at Liverpool, Wijnaldum was a near ever-present in Jurgen Klopp's engine room between 2016 and 2021.

Often used in more attacking roles with the Netherlands and at other clubs, Klopp relied on Wijnaldum's supreme technical ability and super glue-covered feet. He also had a habit of turning up on the big occasions. See: Barcelona, May 2019.

Hit or Miss? HIT

19. Adam Lallana - £25m (Southampton, 2014)

Injuries stopped Lallana from becoming a more present figure in the really good times of the Klopp era (though he still has Champions League and Premier League winner's medals to his name).

The ex-Southampton star was a key player in his first three seasons at Liverpool and was particularly pivotal in the 2016/17 campaign, which ended with the Reds finishing fourth and regaining their place in the Champions League.

Hit or Miss? HIT

18. Roberto Firmino - £29m (TSG Hoffenheim, 2015)

Few players are as beloved on the Kop as Roberto Firmino Barbosa de Oliveira. Deployed as an attacking midfielder and out wide in his first season, Klopp eventually landed on using the Brazilian as a false nine — the role for which he became a walking textbook definition.

Firmino left Anfield in the summer of 2023 with a record of: 82 goals (the most of any Brazilian in Premier League history), 50 assists, all the major trophies and the best smile ever seen on Merseyside.

Hit or Miss? HIT

READ MORE: Roberto Firmino's 10 best moments for Liverpool

17. Sadio Mane - £30m (Southampton, 2016)

He came highly rated, but many were still unsure if Mane could make the step up when he joined Liverpool from Southampton.

It didn't take long for the doubters to be converted, with the new man scoring a screamer on his debut in the 4-3 win over Arsenal. From that moment, Mane's development into one of the best forwards on the planet was nothing short of remarkable.

Along with Firmino and Mohamed Salah, the Senegalese formed Europe's most voracious attacking triumvirate and was often (arguably) the Reds' most important player of the three.

Hit or Miss? HIT

16. Christian Benteke - £32.5m (Aston Villa, 2015)

Arriving the same summer as Firmino, Benteke's signing came at the request of then manager Rodgers, who wanted a more physical target man after the doomed experiments of Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert.

Rodgers' departure not long into the season left Benteke high and dry and it was clear that he never really fit Klopp's style, leaving after just one season at Anfield. Still, we'll always have that volley at Old Trafford.

Hit or Miss? MISS

15. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - £35m (Arsenal, 2017) - Liverpool Record Transfers

When fit, Oxlade-Chamberlain was often an important player for Klopp. He featured 42 times in the 2017/18 season, playing a thrusting, line-breaking role from midfield as Liverpool reached Kyiv.

However, a serious knee injury stopped him playing any part of the Champions League final and most of the following season.

He bounced back in 2019/20 as Liverpool lifted the Premier League title, but more fitness issues have saw his contributions dwindle to sporadic cameos in the seasons since.

Hit or Miss? MISS

14. Andy Carroll - £35m (Newcastle, 2011)

A British transfer record upon his arrival in January of 2011, Carroll and Liverpool went together like orange juice and toothpaste.

Fernando Torres' successor as the Reds' number nine scored just six Premier League goals in 44 appearances and was dogged by questions over his fitness, discipline and desire — Carroll later claimed he never wanted to leave Newcastle and had been forced into a move.

In the pluses column, he did at least score the FA Cup semi-final winner over Everton and gave us all the mental image of Kenny Dalglish at a Boyzone concert.

Hit or Miss? MISS

13. Alexis Mac Allister - £35m (Brighton and Hove Albion, 2023)

A World Cup winner with close to 100 games in the Premier League, Mac Allister's (relatively) low price tag caught more than a few off guard when news of the transfer was reported. Liverpool, however, had taken advantage of a release clause Mac Allister's team had insisted on prior to signing a contract extension at Brighton.

Possibly worth the fee for his ChatGPT-written song alone, but the Argentine has also been a mainstay of Klopp's starting XI when fit, and scored perhaps the goal of the season against Fulham.

Hit or Miss? HIT

12. Ibrahima Konate - £36m (RB Leipzig, 2021)

The 2020/21 season was an annus horribilis for Liverpool's defensive department, with pretty much every centre-back suffering some sort of serious injury. The summer arrival of Konate — one of the most highly rated young defenders in world football – was supposed to be exactly what the doctor ordered, with the Reds in dire need of reliable defensive reinforcement.

While the Frenchman has been impressive when available, he has also made himself quite familiar with the physio room. If he can stay fit, he'll be a mainstay of Liverpool's defence for years to come. If.

Hit or Miss? HIT

11. Ryan Gravenberch - £38m (Bayern Munich, 2023)

Completing Liverpool's much-discussed summer midfield rebuild, Gravenberch arrived on Deadline Day of 2023 as Jurgen Klopp finally got the man he'd been eyeing for some time.

Though not a specialist defensive midfielder, the Netherlands international can play in a variety of midfield roles – a quality which attracted Klopp – with Liverpool taking advantage of his lack of game time in Bavaria to complete a relatively cheap deal of £34m plus add-ons.

Hit or Miss? JURY'S OUT

10. Fabinho - £43.7m (AS Monaco, 2018) - Liverpool Record Transfers

Brought in as part of the big summer upgrade of 2018 that also saw Alisson and Naby Keita arrive, Fabinho added a steel and composure that had been missing from Liverpool's midfield.

Up there with the very best defensive midfielders in the world between 2019 and 2022, Fabinho's form dipped somewhat in 2022/23 and his long-term future remains uncertain as the club embarks on a rebuild. Whatever happens, there's no questioning his contribution to one of the most successful periods in Liverpool's history.

Hit or Miss? HIT

9. Mohamed Salah - £43.9m (AS Roma, 2017)

The Egyptian winger shattered records in his maiden season at Anfield, most notably outscoring Suarez's tally for goals in a 38-game Premier League season (32).

Any notions that the one-time Chelsea "flop" may be a one-season wonder were very rapidly dispelled as he continued to score lots and lots of goals, season after season. A three-time Golden Boot winner and now Liverpool's all-time Premier League top scorer, Salah is a global superstar and a true icon at Anfield.

Hit or Miss? HIT

8. Cody Gakpo - £44m (PSV Eindhoven, 2023)

A somewhat unexpected arrival in the winter window of the 2022/23 season, expedited by injuries to other attacking options, Gakpo found his feet quickly and scored memorable goals against rivals Everton and Manchester United.

The Dutchman's talent is not up for debate, but whether he is best used centrally or out wide certainly is.

Hit or Miss? JURY'S OUT

7. Diogo Jota - £45m (Wolverhampton Wanderers, 2020)

Known as Jota (the Portuguese for the letter 'J') because there were too many different different Diogo's at his junior club, the forward has had his moniker updated to "Jota the Slotter" at Anfield for his ruthless finishing.

Versatile and able to impact matches from the bench, Jota has become a key squad player for Klopp — one whose importance has been felt particularly strongly when out injured.

Hit or Miss? HIT

6. Luis Diaz - £50m (FC Porto, 2021)

A winger who gets fans off their seats and puts full backs on the floor, Diaz was an instant hit at Liverpool, scoring six times in the second half of 2021/22 as the Reds pulled off a domestic double — the Colombian was named Man of the Match in the FA Cup final.

Injury hampered his first full campaign, while he has also had to deal with the ordeal of his father's kidnapping in Colombia last year. However, he remains an important player in Klopp's attacking unit.

Hit or Miss? HIT

5. Naby Keita - £52.75m (RB Leipzig, 2018) - Liverpool Record Transfers

Coveted for so long, Keita was supposed to be an all-action midfielder in the Steven Gerrard mould, even inheriting the famous number eight shirt.

A seemingly endless series of injuries became the stuff of legend (including one allegedly caused by in-flight air con) and his Liverpool career was frustratingly stop start.

There were moments of magic reminiscent of the Bundesliga displays that made Liverpool's hierarchy bet the farm on him and Keita remained well-loved by the fanbase until the end. Overall, though, the general vibe was one of disappointment.

Hit or Miss? MISS

4. Dominik Szoboszlai - £60m (RB Leipzig, 2023)

After the signing of Mac Allister, Liverpool continued their summer rebuild with the capture of Hungary star Szoboszlai.

The former Leipzig man represents a different kind of midfield option to those at Klopp's disposal in recent seasons and has shone with his work rate, creativity and ability absolutely smack one from range in his first few months.

Hit or Miss? HIT

3. Alisson Becker - £65m (AS Roma, 2018)

Alisson's impact at Liverpool can't be understated. It seems unlikely that the Reds would've scaled the heights they have in recent seasons with a lesser keeper, while the lows would've been much lower without the Brazilian at the back to bail his team out.

There is simply no better goalkeeper in world football at facing an attacker down one on one.

Hit or Miss? HIT

2. Virgil van Dijk - £75m (Southampton, 2018) - Liverpool Record Transfers

A transfer saga for the ages, Liverpool's eventual capture of Van Dijk in the January window of 2018 was transformative for the club. The defender arrived as the most expensive defender in the world but he was also the best in the world. His signing instantly took the club to new levels, ushering in a new era of higher standards.

Over five years on, and now club captain, he remains one of the most feared centre backs in the game and is still the only defender ever to win UEFA's Men's Player of the Year award.

Hit or Miss? HIT

1. Darwin Nuñez - £85.36m (Benfica, 2022) - Liverpool Record Transfers

Nuñez arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2022 into a series of unfortunate comparisons. He is Uruguayan like Suarez, was replacing the outgoing Sadio Mane and came to the Premier League at the same time as Manchester City's Erling Haaland and — all very high bars.

While his first season wasn't a total disaster (Nuñez did score 15 goals in all competitions), his explosive and erratic style has made him as frustrating to watch as he is exciting.

He has been capable of the ridiculous and the sublime but fans are still waiting for him to explode like he did at Benfica.

Hit or Miss? JURY'S OUT

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Note: All figures included are in GBP (£) as reported at the time of the transfer and take into account add-ons.