How Liverpool signed ‘the best players available’ as FSG given huge credit
Liverpool enjoyed a record-breaking summer transfer window, spending the most money ever by a single club in a single window.
Alexander Isak signed for Liverpool from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day, marking the end of a summer-long saga.
The Swede £125million price tag was a Premier League record, but it was just a drop in the water for the Reds’ overall expenditure.
Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen and Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, to add to their attacking reinforcements.
Defensive additions were also needed following the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen to replace the right-back.
FSG given huge credit for Liverpool summer spree
Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), wanted guaranteed success this season, and their actions in the transfer market tell as much.
Despite winning the Premier League at a canter last season, the Reds have backed Arne Slot as much as they conceivably can, with the lack of a central defender the only possible criticism that can be levelled at the door of sporting director Richard Hughes.
Liverpool had attempted to sign Marc Guehi, even agreeing a £35m fee with Crystal Palace on deadline day, but the Eagles ultimately pulled the plug on the deal.
But the huge number of signings – and the quality of them – is perhaps overshadowed by the way in which Liverpool sold.
| Liverpool | Summer 2025/26 | Arsenal |
| £446.5m | Incomings | £267m |
| £228.1m | Outgoings | £10m |
| £218.4m | Net spend | £257m |
The Reds’ boasted a lower net spend than rivals, Arsenal, despite spending almost £150m more.
Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah, Ben Doak, Tyler Morton, and Coaimhin Keller earned Liverpool around £228m in outgoings, allowing them to spend so handsomely on incomings.
“Net spend, that is all that matters,” Jan Aage Fjortoft told ESPN on Tuesday 9 September.
“There is no oil or gas under Anfield, they’ve just managed the club very well. They’ve managed to take the greatest talent of German football next to Musiala, Florian Wirtz, they got Isak at the end.
“Ekitike will think ‘what’s happening?’ but they have still managed to take the best players available in the market.”
FSG have won Liverpool fans’ favour
There was a time when FSG were an unpopular presence at Liverpool. The owners were seen as stingy and unambitious, leaving Jurgen Klopp to manage on a shoestring.
Even last summer, fans voiced their displeasure at the solitary arrival of Federico Chiesa.
But FSG have surely emphatically answered any critics with their activity this summer, and proved their rightful place as the owners of Liverpool.
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