Analysis: Alexander Isak’s £125m Liverpool Move

Alexander Isak’s £125m Liverpool Move: Why the Swede Justifies a Record Fee

Liverpool have made history once again, smashing the British transfer record to land Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak for £125 million; a deal that instantly makes the Swedish international the most expensive signing in the country’s football history.

The move comes at a time when Arne Slot’s team are flying. Fresh from a Premier League title win and the summer arrivals of Florian Wirtz, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitiké, Liverpool already looked strong. Dominik Szoboszlai’s brilliant free-kick against Arsenal kept their perfect start to the 2025-26 campaign intact. And now, as fans were winding down late on Sunday night, the news broke: Isak was on his way to Anfield.

The 25-year-old has penned a six-year deal, giving the champions another world-class option up front and underlining their determination to stay at the top.

From AIK to Anfield: Isak’s Journey

Isak has long been tipped for greatness. He first drew attention as a teenager at AIK, scoring 19 times in just 24 league games in 2016 before moving to Borussia Dortmund. Germany wasn’t the right fit, but a switch to Real Sociedad in 2019 gave him the stage he needed. Trusted by coach Imanol Alguacil, Isak flourished, scoring 44 goals in 132 appearances, with only two of those from the penalty spot. He was instrumental in Sociedad lifting the Copa del Rey which is their first in 33 years.

Newcastle gambled big in 2022, paying over £60m despite Isak coming off a modest six-goal La Liga season. The investment more than paid off: 62 goals in 109 matches, including 49 from open play, made him their best striker since Alan Shearer. He even ended the club’s long trophy drought by scoring in their EFL Cup final victory over Liverpool in March.

The Numbers Behind the Price Tag

Isak’s last two years in England have been outstanding. Across all competitions, he netted 52 goals for Newcastle, with 44 in the Premier League alone. Only Erling Haaland (49) and Mohamed Salah (47) scored more in the last two seasons and Isak did it while playing six fewer matches than Salah. Stripping away penalties, only Haaland (39) outscored Isak’s 35, leaving Salah one behind on 33.

Creativity has also grown in his game. In 2023-24, he created 27 open-play chances in the league, bettered by just three teammates. Last season, he took a major leap, registering 50 open-play chances across competitions which is his highest ever and averaging 1.33 per 90 minutes. In December 2024 alone, he topped the league both for goals (8) and open-play chances created (19).

He also added six Premier League assists last season, second only to Jacob Murphy among Newcastle players, after managing two the year before.

More Than a Finisher

Isak has shown versatility too. While his first Newcastle season saw him spend almost a quarter of his minutes on the left flank, he has since established himself as a pure centre-forward. “I would say I see myself as a striker, that’s my position,” he told Alan Shearer last year. “I feel comfortable receiving on the left, but haven’t been as good when starting there.”

Unlike many traditional No.9s, Isak is heavily involved in build-up play. He averaged 36.8 touches per 90 in the 2024-25 campaign, ahead of Darwin Núñez (33.2), Nicolas Jackson (30.9), Ollie Watkins (27.0) and even Haaland (22.9). He also matched Salah and Cody Gakpo for possession wins in the final third (0.6 per 90), only slightly behind Núñez and Diogo Jota (0.7). His 18 high turnovers ranked among the best in the league for centre-forwards.

A Record-Breaking Striker

When it comes to goalscoring milestones, Isak already has an impressive list. He became just the third Newcastle player after Andy Cole and Alan Shearer to score 10+ home and away goals in a single Premier League season. He reached 50 league goals in only 76 appearances, a feat bettered by just six players in history.

He is now the all-time top-scoring Swede in the Premier League, overtaking Freddie Ljungberg’s tally of 48. He also joined the elite company of Jamie Vardy, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Daniel Sturridge as one of only four players to score in eight consecutive Premier League matches.

In 2024, his 25 Premier League goals were the most by a Newcastle player in a calendar year since Shearer’s 27 in 2002. He scored against nearly every major side last season, including Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester United.

Ruthless in Front of Goal

Isak’s finishing numbers underline why Liverpool have committed such a huge fee. His non-penalty shot conversion rate stood at 26.4% from 95 shots last season. Among players with at least 50 attempts, only four posted better figures, including Brentford’s Yoane Wissa (27.5%) and Celta Vigo’s Jørgen Strand Larsen (28.6%). Isak’s rate was comfortably higher than both Haaland (21.6%) and Salah (21.1%).

Movement is another strength. He made 113 runs as a crossing option in 2024-25, ranking among the league’s top 10, and 287 runs in behind, with 49 ending inside the box. Only Salah (389) managed more among Liverpool players. His runs directly led to 77 shots — 29 more than any other Premier League player.

Preparing for the Future

Liverpool’s decision to invest £125m in Isak is as much about the present as it is about planning ahead. Salah, who extended his deal by two years, will soon enter the twilight of his Anfield career. With Ekitiké (23), Wirtz (22), Gakpo (26) and emerging talent Rio Ngumoha (17) joining Isak (25), Liverpool are assembling an attack designed to outlast their current superstar.

The fixture load will demand depth too. If Liverpool are to chase every trophy, as they have openly stated, they will play more than 60 matches this season. Slot now has the firepower to rotate without weakening his team.

If Isak brings the same form he showed at Newcastle, Liverpool will feel the money is well spent. If he takes another step forward surrounded by elite teammates, £125m may one day look like a bargain.