Jeremie Frimpong is not expected to head into his second season at Liverpool as first-choice right-back, but it is now claimed that was never likely to be his role.
Frimpong joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a £29.5 million deal last summer but injury and struggles to adapt led to a difficult debut campaign.
The Dutchman only managed 1,794 minutes on the pitch over 35 appearances, starting 23 times and missing 20 games due to hamstring problems.
It was undoubtedly disappointing for all involved, but Frimpong’s situation at Liverpool may be made clearer by the way in which the club’s decision-makers viewed his transfer when it was sanctioned.
Journalist David Lynch, writing on his Substack, explained that “he has always privately been billed as an opportunistic signing whose usefulness comes in being dipped in and out of the team in various positions.”
The 25-year-old found himself in that role in the latter stages of last season when he split his time between right-back and the right wing.
Arguably, he does not truly suit either, with his best form at Leverkusen coming as a wing-back in Xabi Alonso’s 3-4-3 with space to run into and utilising his devastating pace.
“As such, you sense there is no desire for him to be a regular starter for an extended period,” Lynch added.
Arne Slot favoured a back four and that is likely to also be the case with Andoni Iraola, which may leave Frimpong in his role as versatile squad player.
Why Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 4, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong celebrates his side's second goal during the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It stands to reason that Liverpool will have seen value in the deal for a variety of reasons, not least due to the Netherlands international having a release clause in his contract.
That avoided the need for negotiations with Leverkusen and ensured his switch was fairly straightforward, in a summer which also saw close friend and team-mate Florian Wirtz make the same move.
Frimpong’s ability to fill in at right-back and on the right wing was particularly helpful in a season interrupted by Mo Salah‘s duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 27, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot gives Jeremie Frimpong instructions during a break in play during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
And crucially, due to his upbringing at Man City, he qualifies as a homegrown player in the Premier League – with Liverpool short of first-team options to fill the quota.
Nevertheless, despite not necessarily being viewed as a first-choice starter even when he was signed, there is still a place for Frimpong at Liverpool.
It may be more about convincing the player himself that, long term, the likes of Kostas Tsimikas, Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo are his peers rather than Wirtz, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai.