Milos Kerkez once stirred up controversy with a social media post expressing his frustration over a lack of playing time before his transfer was finalized.
This week, he returned to the UK from a break in Belgrade to undergo a medical ahead of his move to Liverpool after impressing at fellow Premier League team Bournemouth last season. Kerkez's deal was officially announced on Thursday, having signed a five-year deal on Merseyside, although his shirt number is yet to be announced.
During the 2024-25 season, Kerkez was a mainstay in Bournemouth's starting line-up, featuring in all 38 Premier League matches, netting twice and providing six assists, contributing to the team's ninth-place finish.
The 21-year-old has now made the switch to Liverpool, marking the Merseyside club's fourth acquisition of the summer, following the earlier signings of Bayer Leverkusen pair Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz in June, plus goalkeeper Armin Pesci.
However, Anfield bosses might need to tread carefully when managing Kerkez's temperament, given the furore he caused during his 2022 transfer from AC Milan to AZ Alkmaar.
At that time, Kerkez was part of Milan's U19 squad and had joined the club just a year prior with dreams of breaking into the first team.
Unfortunately, these aspirations never came to fruition for the youngster, leading him to vent his frustrations in a since-deleted tweet ahead of his move to the Dutch league.
Kerkez is one of the best young left-backs in Europe
Kerkez is one of the best young left-backs in Europe (Image: Getty Images)
OneFootball revealed that Milos Kerkez initially expressed his excitement about a transfer, stating: "Am very happy for the move I made with my family and agents, time to perform in senior team," accompanied by a shushing-face emoji.
Yet this message was swiftly taken down and substituted with a more cryptic: "Wait for tomorrow," utilising the same emoji. The following day, on January 29, it was officially announced that Kerkez had joined AZ Alkmaar.
After spending a season-and-a-half in the Eredivisie, where he notched up five goals and provided eight assists in 57 outings, Kerkez emerged as a key figure at Bournemouth.
By 2025, he racked up 74 appearances over two seasons, earning plaudits for his defensive prowess.
Liverpool should be mindful of the young talent; despite his considerable experience, including 23 caps for Hungary, his past behavior suggests his temperament might require management.
With a hefty price tag of around $54 million, it's likely he'll be a first-choice player under Slot next term. However, Liverpool currently has both Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas in its squad.
Robertson's future is uncertain, with rumors linking him to Atletico Madrid after a disappointing season, while Tsimikas is contemplating his role in the squad, especially after proving his worth during Liverpool's triumphant title run.