Newcastle United winger Anthony Elanga opens up on Alexander Isak's decision to move to Liverpool for £125m on transfer deadline day
Sweden's forwards Alexander Isak (R) and Anthony Elanga attend a training session with Sweden's national team in Bosön in Lidingö on the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden, on September 2, 2025. Record spending of £3 billion ($4 billion) during the summer transfer window further cements the Premier League as the "most competitive in world football", according to financial experts Deloitte. The window closed in dramatic style late on Monday, September 1, 2025, when Liverpool announced the British record £125 million signing of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak after a day of big moves. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP) (Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)
Newcastle United winger Anthony Elanga says he holds no grudges towards Alexander Isak after his fellow Sweden international left for Liverpool on transfer deadline day for £125m.
Elanga moved to St James' Park from Nottingham Forest in a £55m deal in mid-July, shortly before the tension started to become public between Isak and the club's hierarchy.
After missing the 4-0 defeat to Celtic on July 19, new Reds striker Isak then refused to fly out on their tour of the Far East, citing a a minor injury before returning to training at the facilities of his former club, Real Sociedad, without the permission of Newcastle.
An explosive statement that cited broken promises and lost trust was released just minutes after Isak was included in the PFA's team of the year for the 24/25 campaign last month and the centre forward eventually sealed his dream move to Anfield on Monday evening for a British record fee.
Elanga was philosophical about his international team-mate's move as Jon Dahl Tomasson's side get set to meet Slovenia in a World Cup qualifier on Friday, saying he does not want to be critical of Isak's efforts to leave Newcastle.
“Isak is a Liverpool player right now," Elanga told Fotbollskanalen, as translated by Sport Witness. "I have the chance to play with him in the national team. He had a good career at Newcastle, but right now he is a Liverpool player. Good luck to him.
“It has been chill[ed]. He had a contract with us and right now he is with Liverpool. We all think he is a very good player. We lost a good player but we also signed good players. Hopefully we can look forward and focus on this season.
“It’s his choice. He chose Liverpool. Good luck to him. He is a friend to me and a fantastic footballer. I can play with him in the national team and that is good as well.”
Isak could make his Liverpool debut at Burnley on September 14 ahead of visits the following week from Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and Everton.