Rio Ferdinand snubs big-spending Liverpool as Chelsea ace named best-value signing of summer
Liverpool ended the transfer window as the highest spending club in Europe, with some big names arriving at Anfield.
Alexander Isak joined Liverpool on deadline day for a British record fee, as another striker after a big-money move for Hugo Ekitike.
Isak was Liverpool’s biggest purchase since Florian Wirtz joined from Bayer Leverkusen earlier this summer, while the Reds also strengthened their back line.
Despite an outstanding window in which several areas of Arne Slot’s squad was addressed, Rio Ferdinand believes Chelsea made a better transfer than any of Liverpool’s.
Rio Ferdinand picks Joao Pedro as best-value Premier League signing
Liverpool have arguably had the best window in the Premier League, but other clubs have strengthened as well.
Arsenal also brought in several new attacking players, including striker Viktor Gyokeres, while Chelsea had another busy window of incomings and outgoings.
Speaking on his podcast, Rio Ferdinand Presents, the ex-Man United defender snubbed Liverpool in favour of Chelsea when picking out the best signings of the summer, as he hailed striker Joao Pedro.
| Liverpool signings – 2025/26 |
| Florian Wirtz |
| Alexander Isak |
| Hugo Ekitike |
| Milos Kerkez |
| Jeremie Frimpong |
| Giovanni Leoni |
| Armin Pecsi |
| Freddie Woodman |
“I think Pedro is going to be the best value, Joao Pedro at Chelsea, out of all the [summer] transfers,” he stated.
“I think he’s a great mix and a great addition to the Chelsea squad. He can play centre-forward. He can play as a ten. I see him as a little bit of an 8/10 in the team.
“I think he’s a really, really, really good addition.”
- Read more: Liverpool have done something Jurgen Klopp believed was ‘not possible’ when he was in charge
Joao Pedro compared to Florian Wirtz
Ferdinand’s comments are surprising given that Liverpool’s additions of Wirtz, Isak and Ekitike have made them Premier League title favourites again, and although Pedro has made a strong start at Chelsea, the jury is still out.
Wirtz has had a fairly slow start at Liverpool, and his fee was a lot higher than the £60 million spent to bring Pedro to Chelsea.
While Pedro was cheaper than Wirtz, there is no doubt that Liverpool have signed the player with more proven quality despite actually being younger.
Pedro recorded 30 goals and 10 assists in 70 games for Brighton, while Wirtz recorded 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 Leverkusen matches, which also saw him win a title.
Sign up for the Liverpool News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Liverpool news sent straight to your phone.