Takumi Minamino left Liverpool four years ago today after a mixed spell at Anfield, but the Japan international was labeled a "manager's dream" by Jurgen Klopp after his transfer from Red Bull Salzburg
Theo Squires Liverpool FC Writer
10:02, 28 Jun 2026Updated 10:07, 28 Jun 2026
Takumi Minamino scored against Liverpool in 2019
Takumi Minamino scored against Liverpool in 2019(Image: Getty Images)
Takumi Minamino departed Liverpool four years ago, having secured 14 goals and three winners' medals during his tenure.
He also exited Anfield having earned the accolade of a "manager's dream" from boss Jurgen Klopp as a £15.5 million ($20.5 million) transfer to Monaco was finalized, with the Reds more than doubling their outlay on a player acquired for just £7 million ($9.2 million) in January 2020. The signing generated considerable anticipation, both among supporters and within Klopp's dressing room, yet in retrospect, it proved to be a move that never quite delivered on its promise.
Minamino's time at Anfield presented constant challenges, with obstacles preventing his Liverpool career from truly taking flight. Arriving midway through the club's title-winning season, his integration was hampered by the coronavirus pandemic as he attempted to acclimatize to unfamiliar surroundings, leaving him effectively playing catch-up from the outset.
Denied a proper first full pre-season as a consequence, he additionally encountered the formidable trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane firmly established ahead of him in the hierarchy. He wouldn't be the first player unable to dismantle this triumvirate as he faced an impossible task.
With Diogo Jota entering the equation during the summer of 2021, Luis Diaz arriving 18 months subsequently, and Divock Origi continuing to deliver sporadic decisive contributions, it was only after his half-season loan spell at Southampton that Minamino thrived in his supporting capacity and Liverpool fans finally witnessed a genuine glimpse of the player their club had recruited. Playing opportunities remained scarce as he managed just a single Premier League start during the 2021/22 season.
Nevertheless, Minamino still contributed 10 goals across 24 appearances throughout the campaign, finishing as top scorer in both the FA Cup and League Cup while Liverpool pursued an historic quadruple, ultimately securing a domestic double.
Minamino won several trophies at Liverpool
Minamino won several trophies at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Despite proving instrumental in the Reds' progression to Wembley, his reward for early League Cup goals against Norwich, Preston, and Leicester was to be dropped to the bench in favor of teenager Kaide Gordon for the semifinal second leg against Arsenal, before remaining an unused substitute for the final against Chelsea. His compensation for an FA Cup double against the Canaries, having been relegated to substitute duties in the FA Cup quarterfinal against Nottingham Forest, was exclusion from the matchday squad for both the semifinal and final.
While Minamino would claim both trophies, the signs were clear regarding his future at the club, making his eventual departure unsurprising. It would be tempting to regard Minamino's two and a half years on Merseyside as a failure, dismissing him as a low-cost transfer punt that didn't deliver on the pitch but at least generated a profit.
Indeed, his arrival was opportunistic due to a modest release clause. Liverpool secured the versatile attacker for a bargain price, beating off competition from the likes of Manchester United. Yet Klopp was having none of it when responding to Minamino's exit, speaking glowingly about the player Monaco were acquiring and calling him a "manager's dream."
However, the unfortunate reality is that his finest display at Anfield had actually occurred against Liverpool while still representing Salzburg. While external attention may have centered on Erling Haaland, it was the Japanese international who notched a goal and an assist in a seven-goal spectacle as the Reds emerged 4-3 victors.
After competing against Minamino, his future teammates were won over. After their two encounters with the Austrian club, senior Liverpool players encouraged Klopp to sign the player who had caused them problems throughout. They were unaware that a transfer had already progressed significantly at that stage.
Minamino had been monitored since 2013 when he was representing Cerezo Osaka, with Klopp also observing him during his tenure at Borussia Dortmund. With the Reds' coaching and recruitment team unanimously eager to secure his signature, discussions began in November 2019, with sporting director Michael Edwards playing a pivotal role in the negotiations.
Having established a strong working relationship with Salzburg's director of soccer, Christoph Freund, Liverpool was informed of Minamino's release clause and moved swiftly to beat United to finalizing the transfer, to the considerable enthusiasm of fans at the time. Regrettably for Minamino, those expectations ultimately proved too great given the circumstances.
The right signing at the wrong moment — had he benefited from a stepping stone between Salzburg and Anfield, as both Mane and Naby Keita did, perhaps his chapter as a Red need not have concluded so soon. Perhaps he could have emerged as the natural successor to Mane, rather than departing alongside him.
Article continues below
Nevertheless, Liverpool identified an opportunity and took the gamble. Three years on, it yielded trophies and a profit. For Minamino, he departed with multiple winners' medals to his name, yet with a lingering sense of frustration. He could, however, leave with his head held high; at Liverpool, he was simply a victim of circumstance.