Liverpool’s massive £60 million purchase Dominik Szoboszlai has taken over the No. 8 shirt originally worn with honour by Steven Gerrard, who is one of club’s heroes. The 22-year-old penned down a a five-year contract after his transfer from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig was completed in a matter of days after the Reds triggered his release clause on Friday, just hours before it expired. Szoboszlai is going to don the shirt that was most recently dropped by Naby Keita, who was also signed from Leipzig, after his contract expired. However the midfielder looks up to wear the most iconic number eight shirt.
Liverpool confirms £60 million signing of Dominik Szoboszlai
After settling official agreements and completing a physical tests, the Hungary midfielder becomes the Reds’ second new signing of the summer window, following the footsteps of Alexis Mac Allister.
Szoboszlai joins Liverpool after spending two and a half years with Leipzig in the Bundesliga, where he made 91 appearances across all competitions. Szoboszlai appeared 91 times in all competitions, scoring 20 goals and providing 22 assists to help the Bundesliga team win the DFB-Pokal in 2022 and 2023.
He has 32 caps and seven goals for Hungary at the international level. Szoboszlai was named captain of his country by his players and coach Marco Rossi in November 2022.
Hungary’s captain expresses his happiness at joining Liverpool
The 22-year-old told midfielder said the following during his first interview at the AXA Training Centre:
“It’s really, really good. I enjoyed the last [few] days and I’m looking forward to knowing everybody better.”
“The last three or four days went really long; it was not that easy. But at the end I’m here, I’m happy and I can’t wait to get started.”
“When I was a child, to be honest I didn’t watch that much football but of course when it was Champions League or a big game, I was watching Liverpool, the big teams and also the big players – and he was one of the biggest.”
“A really historic club, really good players, good coach, everything is good. For me it was perfect to make the next step in a club like this. The fans, the stadium, everything is really good.”
Dominik Szoboszlai praises Liverpool Boss Klopp
“As I said, I think in 2020, (Klopp is) one of the best coaches in the world. How he acts next to the pitch, it is like he plays with the guys. I like that really a lot. And also what he has achieved with this club is also really impressive, so I am looking forward to working with him.”
Szoboszlai might make his professional Liverpool debut against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the first game week in the upcoming Premier League season. Prior to that, Klopp’s team will play several pre-season games in Germany and Singapore. Szoboszlai is an excellent player who is ready for the Premier League. He goes box-to-box, puts in a lot of work, is an amazing athlete with great skills, likes a shot taken from outside the box, can score and create goals, and enjoys taking responsibility for moving a team forward. Last season, Liverpool lacked dynamism in midfield, which he might solve this season.
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