Liverpool have completed the signing of 21-year-old left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth in a £40 million deal, pushing their total summer transfer spending beyond the £200 million mark.
The Hungarian international has penned a five-year contract at Anfield, becoming the latest addition under new head coach Arne Slot. Kerkez impressed last season with two goals and six assists in 38 Premier League appearances for the Cherries and is expected to compete with veteran Andy Robertson for the left-back role.
It’s a real honour for me, a privilege to come to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, the biggest club in England,” said Kerkez. “I’m going to give absolutely everything to win trophies with the club. I can’t wait to score at Anfield and hear the roar.”
Kerkez’s arrival continues Liverpool’s aggressive recruitment strategy, which has already seen Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong join for £29.5 million and his teammate Florian Wirtz arrive in a potential British-record £116 million deal. Additionally, Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to complete his £29 million move from Valencia on July 1.
Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes, who joined from Bournemouth last summer, played a key role in reuniting with Kerkez—having initially brought him to the Premier League from AZ Alkmaar in 2023.
Bournemouth, anticipating Kerkez’s departure, signed French left-back Adrien Truffert from Rennes earlier in June for an initial £10.1 million fee.
While Kerkez will initially serve as competition rather than a replacement for Robertson, his arrival signals Liverpool’s intent to inject fresh energy into their defensive line. As Robertson nears the final year of his contract, the club appears to be executing its long-term succession planning with strategic efficiency—mirroring the rapid replacement of Trent Alexander-Arnold with Frimpong following his move to Real Madrid.
With Liverpool’s summer rebuild already past the £200 million mark, fans will be eager to see how Arne Slot’s new-look squad gels ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.
