Liverpool sign Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig for £60M

Who is Dominik Szoboszlai?

Szoboszlai is one of the most exciting young talents in Europe, having impressed for both club and country in the past two seasons. He joined RB Leipzig from their sister club Red Bull Salzburg in 2020 for a fee of $27.5M and scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists in 38 appearances across all competitions for the Bundesliga side.

He also helped Hungary qualify for the Euro 2020 by scoring a stunning last-minute winner against Iceland in the play-offs. He featured in all three group games for his nation, but could not prevent them from being eliminated by France, Germany and Portugal.

Szoboszlai is a versatile and technical midfielder who can play across all of the midfield roles and on both wings, offering Jürgen Klopp plenty of options and flexibility in his system. He is known for his dribbling, passing, shooting and set-piece abilities, as well as his work rate and intelligence.

He has been compared to former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho and current Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne for his style of play and impact on the game. He has also been praised by his former coach Jesse Marsch, who said: "He’s an incredible talent, and I say this: When I came to Salzburg, I heard a lot of people talk about Erling Haaland and how incredible he was, but the first couple of days that I saw Dominik Szoboszlai train, I said: ‘Whoa! This kid is something else’".

Why did Liverpool sign him?

Liverpool were keen to add more creativity and versatility to their midfield after losing James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer. They had already signed Argentina’s World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for £35M earlier this window, but were determined to land Szoboszlai as well.

The Reds decided to trigger his release clause of €70M ($76M) hours before it expired on June 30, as RB Leipzig were unwilling to negotiate a lower fee or a different payment structure. Liverpool saw this as a good value deal for a player who has the potential to become one of the best in his position.

Liverpool also faced competition from other clubs such as Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle for Szoboszlai’s signature, but they managed to convince him to choose Anfield as his next destination. According to reports, Szoboszlai was attracted by Klopp’s project and vision, as well as the chance to play alongside some of the best players in the world.

Szoboszlai will join Mac Allister, Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott as Liverpool’s midfield options for the upcoming season. The Reds are also expected to sign at least one defender before the transfer window closes, with more possible depending on outgoings and opportunities.

What can Liverpool fans expect from him?

Liverpool fans can expect Szoboszlai to add more flair, dynamism and goals to their midfield, as well as provide more support and service to their front three. He can also contribute defensively with his pressing and tackling skills, as well as take responsibility for set-pieces.

Szoboszlai has already shown his quality and potential at both club and international level, but he still has room for improvement and development under Klopp’s guidance. He will need some time to adapt to the Premier League’s intensity and physicality, as well as to Klopp’s system and demands.

However, he has the talent, mentality and personality to succeed at Liverpool and become a fan favourite. He has already expressed his excitement and gratitude for joining the Reds, saying: "I’m very happy to be here. It’s a dream come true for me. I want to thank everyone who made this possible. I can’t wait to start playing for this amazing club"
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Liverpool fans will be hoping that Szoboszlai can help them challenge for the Premier League title again, after finishing third last season behind Manchester City and Chelsea. The Reds will also compete in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup in 2023-24.

Szoboszlai is Liverpool’s second big signing of the summer, but he might not be their last. The Reds are still looking to strengthen their squad further before the transfer deadline on August 31. Stay tuned for more Liverpool transfer news and rumours on this website.