Dominik Szoboszlai‘s new long-term contract represents a long overdue win for Liverpool after allowing several prime-age players to walk out the door for nothing.
Szoboszlai is the headline name of players out of contract in 2028, and the club’s recent track record will have had plenty anticipating a similar, costly oversight.
With Michael Edwards gone and Richard Hughes speculated to be leaving for Saudi Arabia at the end of the summer, the concern that another contract would be passed on was heightened.
However, the Hungarian is close to signing a new long-term deal to end what has felt like a perpetual cycle of the club shooting themselves in the foot.
No longer a sideshow during the season
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Milos Kerkez and Dominik Szoboszlai (R) after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. The game ended 1-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Last season was dominated by talk over whether Ibrahima Konate’s contract would be resolved, which immediately followed on from the saga surrounding Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
While two talks concluded with contracts, the other two ended with over £100 million worth of talent walking out the door for only the £8.4 million Real Madrid paid for the right-back’s early release.
Each contract that went unsigned created unwanted and unnecessary sideshows during the last two seasons, and no one had the stomach for a third, especially during Andoni Iraola‘s debut campaign.
For a club that has prided itself on ruthless and shrewd squad management, contracts have become somewhat of a circus, passed from one sporting director to the next.
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“I would love to (stay). I like the city, I like the club, I like playing with these guys, I love Anfield, I love the fans.”
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Although there are still several players with uncertain futures heading into next summer, including Van Dijk, the club has, at least, negated yet another long-drawn-out drama with Szoboszlai.
Had Liverpool allowed negotiations to drag into the season, the narrative of another inevitable exit would have clouded what is, hopefully, an exciting year under Iraola.
Thankfully, Liverpool have finally taken control and locked away a player in their prime.
Liverpool finally protect the value of a player in their prime
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 21, 2025: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai looks on during the Premier League 2 match between Liverpool FC Under-21's and Manchester United FC Under-21's at the Liverpool Academy. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Szoboszlai vocalised his willingness and desire to stay throughout last season, and his commitment is welcomed after seeing others in his position move on.
While he, at times, rubbed many up the wrong way during Liverpool’s turbulent 2025/26 season, Szoboszlai was one of the very few shining lights to come out of the campaign.
He was Arne Slot‘s go-to man seemingly in every position, to the point where you’d half-expect him to be first in line for the goalkeeper shirt had an injury crisis struck.
With two years left on his initial deal, the whispers of Real Madrid and an exit had already begun, but at least Liverpool have now protected themselves and Szoboszlai’s value.
After all, he is an elite midfielder who would cost in excess of £100 million to replace.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai engages with the Anfield crowd during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
If he goes on to see out his prime years at Liverpool, it will be worth every penny, but the club also have the bargaining power should a bid be tabled or interest expressed.
More importantly, given it is expected to be a five-year deal, it gives Iraola a guaranteed cornerstone to build around without consistently fielding questions over the midfielder’s future.
The No. 8’s relentless intensity suits the new expectations at Anfield, and as an emerging leader in the dressing room, his extension is a statement Liverpool have needed to make.
For too many years, the Reds have allowed talent in their prime to leave them with nothing to invest or signal that the club is a stepping stone to another destination.
Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scored his fifth goal in his last eight games (Peter Byrne/PA)
Liverpool have needed to seize control of their squad planning, and after previously acting too late, the 25-year-old’s deal halts the self-inflicted wounds.
With that vital to-do boxed off, it is now time to focus on making more statements by building a squad ready to make a significant step up from last season.