LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola on the bench before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola on the bench before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool finished with the highest net spend of any Premier League club in the summer transfer window, despite adding only four new senior members to Andoni Iraola‘s squad for 2026/27.
The Reds’ efforts in the transfer window have drawn widespread criticism from media and fans alike, not for the calibre of signings, but for the clear positions left unaddressed.
Bradley Barcola‘s deal proved the second-highest of any transfer in the English top flight this summer, with his £123 million fee only eclipsed by Enzo Fernandez’s record-equalling £125 million switch to Man City.
* Sky Sports did not account for Stefan Bajcetic sale.
Ultimately, it saw the Reds top the Premier League‘s net spend table with £218.4 million, ahead of Ipswich (£190.7m), Tottenham (£176m) and Arsenal (£136.6m).
Sporting director Richard Hughes oversaw the sixth-highest gross spend in the division (£250.1m), but recouped just £31.7 million in sales, the eighth-lowest total in the top flight, as per Sky Sports.
Liverpool made six new signings in total this summer, two of whom are not involved in the squad this season, which is the joint-fifth fewest in the league.
Liverpool Incomings: Summer 2026
Bradley Barcola – PSG – £123m
Jeremy Jacquet – Rennes – £60m
Victor Munoz – Osasuna – £34.5m
Lucca Brughmans – Genk – £30m
Ifeanyi Ndukwe – Austria Vienna – £2.6m
Ronald Araujo – Barcelona – Loan
Total Outlay: £250.1m
Liverpool’s failure to capitalise on outgoing talent
Liverpool’s low sales revenue (£31.7m) was due to players failing to leave for significant fees, combined with major departures on free transfers.
Of the six players to permanently depart, Curtis Jones‘ move to Inter Milan accounted for the majority of the sales total (£30m), and even that was an undervaluation of the midfielder.
Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate all left as free transfers, with the latter a particularly concerning exit after contract extension talks collapsed.
An international centre-back in his prime, Liverpool left themselves unable to either keep hold of Konate or ensure he could be sold for the value he was worth, so it could be reinvested into the squad.
Liverpool Outgoings: Summer 2026
Curtis Jones – Inter Milan – £30m
Stefan Bajcetic – Celta Vigo – £1m
Mohamed Salah – Trabzonspor – Free Transfer
Andy Robertson – Tottenham – Free Transfer
Ibrahima Konate – Real Madrid – Free Transfer
Luca Stephenson – Bolton – £700k
Total Recouped: £31.7m
Elsewhere, Stefan Bajcetic was allowed to join Celta Vigo for just £1 million, while Harvey Elliott’s loan to Valencia represented another summer without securing a permanent, sizeable fee.
Liverpool also chose to reject Man City‘s £85 million bid for Cody Gakpo as they could not land a suitable replacement in time, passing up a valuation that they are unlikely to see again for the No. 18.
Ultimately, the lack of saleable assets led to limitations for Liverpool in the window, but it was a predicament of their own making.
hughes media
hughes media
Iraola, Hughes collage
Iraola, Hughes collage
signings-2026