Liverpool Secure £40 Million Deal for Milos Kerkez
Liverpool have agreed a £40 million deal with Bournemouth for Hungarian left-back Milos Kerkez, with the 21-year-old set to undergo a medical in Merseyside on June 24, 2025. The transfer is considered one of the most high-profile moves of the summer, signaling Liverpool’s strong intent to strengthen their squad under new manager Arne Slot as they look to retain their Premier League crown. Kerkez is expected to sign a five-year contract, tying him to the club until 2030. The official announcement could come as early as tomorrow, pending medical clearance and final paperwork.
Kerkez arrived at Bournemouth from AZ Alkmaar in July 2023 for £15.5 million and quickly became one of the league’s standout defenders. He featured in all 38 Premier League games last season, registering two goals and six assists while helping Bournemouth achieve a record-high ninth-place finish with 56 points. Known for his aggressive defending and attacking flair, he ranked fifth among Premier League defenders in ball recoveries (169) and contributed significantly to the offense with 34 open-play chances created and 142 crosses. His 22 successful dribbles and 476 final-third passes also underscore his all-around capabilities—qualities that fit seamlessly into Slot’s high-energy, full-back-driven system.
The move was largely orchestrated by Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes, who originally brought Kerkez to Bournemouth during his time there as technical director. Kerkez’s father, Sebastijan, voiced his confidence in Hughes, saying, “For us, Liverpool is the only option. If he had told us to go to India, we would have.” The personal terms were quickly agreed upon, with Kerkez reaffirming his ambition in a March interview with The Athletic: “As a kid, you dream of playing at the highest level, winning trophies, and joining top teams.”
Liverpool’s pursuit of Kerkez gained momentum amid uncertainty over their current left-backs. Andy Robertson, 31, is being linked with a move to Atlético Madrid as his contract nears its end, and backup Kostas Tsimikas could leave in search of more playing time. Kerkez offers a youthful, long-term solution and fits in well with other recent signings like Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m) and Florian Wirtz (£116.5m), both from Bayer Leverkusen. Bournemouth, preparing for Kerkez’s departure, have already signed Adrien Truffert from Rennes and Argentine U23 defender Julio Soler as replacements.
The £40 million fee makes Kerkez Liverpool’s most expensive full-back in history and their 12th-costliest transfer overall—second only to Virgil van Dijk among defenders. With additional targets like Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak still on the radar, the Reds could spend over £200 million this summer. Kerkez’s connection with fellow Hungarian Dominik Szoboszlai and his potential link-up with Wirtz on the left side promises to usher in an exciting new era for Liverpool.
