Liverpool summer transfers ranked: Best to worst from Arne Slot's 2025 window including Alexander Isak, Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool were the shock big-spenders of the 2025 summer transfer window, drawing attention from around the world for their total outlay of £415m.

The Reds built on their title-winning campaign by backing Arne Slot with two Premier League record-breaking transfers - Florian Wirtz joined from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m, before Alexander Isak completed a deadline-day switch from Newcastle United in a deal worth £125m.

However, while the Merseysiders spent significantly, they were able to do so thanks to a combination of intelligent planning and frugality in 2024-25, when they parted with just £12.5m, and a number of high-profile sales.

For instance, Luis Diaz departed for Bayern Munich for a fee that could reach £65.5m, while Darwin Nunez joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal for £56.6m.

Elsewhere, younger talents that did not have a space of their own in the squad such as Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah and Ben Gannon Doak were sold to swell the coffers, all while leaving with buy-back clauses.

That being said, things did not go perfectly for Slot's side given that they lost Trent Alexander-Arnold - even if they remarkably received a fee - while the likes of Tyler Morton may have been undervalued.

Here, Sports Mole ranks all of Liverpool's business in the transfer market from best to worst, divided by arrivals and exits.

Liverpool's 2025 summer transfer window incomings ranked best to worst:

1. Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak's Premier League record £125m transfer was the saga that dominated the headlines this summer, and all eyes will be on the Swedish striker when club football returns later this month.

The Reds' new number nine notched 23 goals in the top flight last season, beating Erling Haaland but falling short of golden-boot-winning teammate Mohamed Salah.

2. Hugo Ekitike

French striker Hugo Ekitike was the subject of interest from Newcastle, but Liverpool swooped in to secure his signature for a fee that could rise to £79m.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt man has made an excellent start to life at Anfield, becoming the first Reds player since Daniel Sturridge to score in each of his first three appearances.

However, after Isak finally completed the switch on deadline day, it remains to be seen where he will fit into the lineup, though Slot has mentioned that he considers Ekitike as someone that can play across the frontline.

3. Florian Wirtz

Florian Wirtz was the Premier League's most expensive player ever when he was signed for £116m, and though that title has since been usurped by his own teammate, Liverpool have still brought in one of the best players in the world.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder can also play as a forward, and though he is taking some time to adjust to the English top flight, the fact that he created the most chances as well as covering the most distance prior to his substitution on his Premier League debut highlights his unique profile.

4. Milos Kerkez

Arguably the best left-back in the division last season, Liverpool handed Bournemouth £40m for Milos Kerkez in what was one of the worst-kept secrets of the transfer window.

The Hungarian left-back made a slow start to life at Anfield, including producing a defensive error against Newcastle at St James' Park that allowed Bruno Guimaraes to get the Magpies back into the game, but he is still only 21 years old, two years younger than Andrew Robertson was when he joined the Reds.

If the left-back can repeat his performance from the champions' 1-0 win against Arsenal in future, then he can be a mainstay in Slots's backline for years to come, and given that he tackled a Preston North End player with his head on his debut, then it is fair to say that he is willing to do anything to win.

5. Giovanni Leoni

Liverpool may have missed out on signing Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, but 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni joined in what could be one of their best deals this summer.

Sporting director Richard Hughes and CEO Michael Edwards shelled out £26m to Parma for a player that has made just 29 senior appearances in his career to date, believing that he is the best central defender prospect around, and the potential heir to Virgil van Dijk.

Considering that Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez are both injury prone, Leoni could see more action than intended in 2025-26, but after the way he handled some of the most physical strikers in world football including Romelu Lukaku and Dusan Vlahovic last season, he should be able to handle Premier League minutes.

6. Jeremie Frimpong

A direct replacement for Alexander-Arnold does not exist, so Liverpool have turned to a completely different profile as their new right-back.

Known for his lightning pace and potency in attack rather than his passing range, Jeremie Frimpong signed from Bayer Leverkusen for a bargain price of £29.5m.

As well as operating at right-back, the Dutchman is set to deputise for Salah in the forward line when the Egyptian departs for the Africa Cup of Nations later this season.

7. Giorgi Mamardashvili

Giorgi Mamardashvili's transfer was agreed in 2024-25, but he made the switch from Valencia this summer, and is set for at least one season as Liverpool's backup shot stopper.

After Caoimhin Kelleher was sold to Brentford, the Georgian has big shoes to fill in cup competitions given that the Irishman contributed significantly to a number of trophy wins during his spell on Merseyside, including by scoring a penalty in the 2022 Carabao Cup final against Chelsea.

Additionally, with Alisson Becker picking up injuries more regularly than in the past, Mamardashvili could be called upon in the Premier League, and it is unlikely to be many seasons before the 24-year-old is the Reds' number one.

8. Armin Pecsi

Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool established what was described as a 'school of goalkeeping', with assistance from coach and Brazil legend Claudio Taffarel.

Hungary youth international Armin Pecsi is the latest recruit to join the shot-stopping ranks at Anfield, and though Taffarel has now left the club, the 20-year-old has some of the best in the business to learn from.

9. Will Wright

Alongside top talent Rio Ngumoha, Slot also has 17-year-old Will Wright at his disposal, and the teenager could be handed some senior minutes in the early rounds of the cup competitions.

Liverpool beat Arsenal to his signature in the summer, paying Salford City £200,000 for the young forward, who scored more than 50 goals for the club across all age groups in 2024-25.

10. Freddie Woodman

Every team needs a third-choice goalkeeper that is willing to accept limited playing time but still contribute to the team's success, especially in high-level training sessions.

Freddie Woodman joined Liverpool for free after his Preston contract expired, and he will be supporting Alisson, Mamardashvili and Pecsi while not taking up a non-homegrown spot in the Reds' squad.

Liverpool's 2025 summer transfer window outgoings ranked best to worst:

1. Luis Diaz

Luis Diaz joined Liverpool for an initial £37.5m from Porto in January 2022, and given that not all of the winger's add-ons were triggered, it is reported that he cost approximately £42.8m overall.

The Colombian winger was not somebody that the Reds were actively looking to sell prior to the window opening, but they were also unwilling to meet the contract demands made by Diaz and his agent.

The 28-year-old enjoyed three-and-a-half years on Merseyside, and left with the well wishes of fans when he joined Bayern Munich for £65.5m, a deal that banked the club a profit of almost £23m.

2. Darwin Nunez

Darwin Nunez was Liverpool's record signing prior to this summer's shocking transfer window, and fans were understandably excited when arrived from Benfica in 2022.

At 22 years old, the Uruguayan had been one of the only strikers to come out on top in a physical battle with Van Dijk and Konate when the Reds faced As Aguias in the Champions League, delivering an incredible performance at Anfield that left the centre-backs - as well as Klopp - enamoured.

Nunez showed glimpses of his immense potential during three difficult seasons with Liverpool, but despite boasting superior minutes-per-goal and minutes-per-assist ratios to Sadio Mane, and providing 31 goal contributions in 2023-24, the striker never found consistency, and the £56.6m that Al-Hilal paid represented good business for the Reds.

3. Ben Gannon Doak

Celtic received £600,000 in compensation for Ben Gannon Doak in 2022, and Hughes sold the winger to his former club Bournemouth for £25m.

The 19-year-old is one of the most threatening young dribblers around, and his pace and agility has caused problems for defenders on both the domestic and international stages.

Slot's side banked a useful £24.4m profit on the teenager, but they have also inserted a buy-back option into the deal with the Cherries and will be keeping tabs on Gannon Doak's progress.

4. Caoimhin Kelleher

The Irish shot stopper became a fan-favourite over the years for his heroic performances in cup competitions and his strong spells between the sticks when Alisson had been out with injury, including for extended periods during last season's title win.

Kelleher had been linked with a move away from Anfield to become first-choice at a Premier League club on a number of occasions, but it was Brentford that prised him away from the Reds for what could be a bargain price of £18m.

Liverpool have Mamardashvili to play backup for now, and securing a solid fee for the 26-year-old goalkeeper was the right choice.

5. Harvey Elliott

Harvey Elliott was a key member of the squad in Klopp's later years at Anfield, but injuries prevented him from playing a larger part under Slot in 2024-25.

The 22-year-old has a good balance of youth, experience and talent, but given that Liverpool signed attacking midfielder Forian Wirtz, the UEFA Under-21 Euros winner had no direct pathway into the XI in the foreseeable future.

As a result, he made the choice to join Aston Villa on a loan deal with an obligation to buy for £35m, and while the Reds were hoping for a fee closer to £50m, the presence of both buy-back and sell-on clauses could make up some of the difference.

6. Jarell Quansah

The young centre-back was the breakout star of Klopp's final campaign as boss, and he did not look out of place alongside Van Dijk in the backline despite his inexperience.

However, Quansah was less-favoured by Slot, who started him in his opening top-flight game against Ipswich Town and decided from then on that his pecking order in the backline did not have the 22-year-old near the top.

Liverpool received a fee that could rise to £35m from Bayer Leverkusen for a player that was part of the academy since the age of five and once again inserted a buy-back clause into the deal, but without signing Guehi, the Reds could be left short at centre-back this term.

7. Nat Phillips

Along with Rhys Williams, Nat Phillips was part of a cult-heroic centre-back pairing that helped save Liverpool's 2020-21 campaign and guide the team into the Champions League places.

The defender came to the fore amidst a catastrophic injury crisis that saw all of Klopp's senior centre-halves, as well as the midfielders that played out of position to replace them - and January signing Ozan Kabak - sidelined.

Philips stepped up whenever he was needed on occasion over the years, but while he produced some iconic moments - including a cruyff turn at the San Siro that wrong-footed Zlatan Ibrahimovic - the Reds waited too long to cash in on the defender and netted just £3m with add-ons.

8. Tyler Morton

Liverpool kept Tyler Morton from leaving the club in 2024-25 in order to secure depth in the centre of the park, but Slot made sparing use of the technically gifted midfielder, who failed to appear even once in the Premier League.

After 15 years with the Reds, Morton joined Lyon in a deal worth £15m, and while that may seem a commendable sum for a player deemed surplus to requirements, the 22-year-old has made an excellent start to life in Ligue 1 by delivering a number of man-of-the-match-worthy performances.

If the midfielder continues at his current rate, then he could be the subject of interest from around Europe in the near future, but the saving grace for Liverpool is that they inserted a sell-on clause into his contract that may boost their profits.

9. Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold became the best right-back in the world during his time at boyhood club Liverpool, and he could have been sold for a significant fee under the right circumstances.

However, the academy graduate ran down his contract in order to facilitate a move to Real Madrid, and shattered his relationship with the Kop almost instantaneously.

It is undeniably impressive that Hughes was able to extract £8.4m from Los Blancos, who wanted the full-back to play in the Club World Cup, but losing Alexander-Arnold in this situation at all, even for such a paltry sum, makes this Liverpool's worst business of the summer.