Richard Hughes (Liverpool sporting director)
September 2025

Liverpool smashed records with £450m in transfers, headlined by Alexander Isak (£125m) and Florian Wirtz (£100m rising to £116m). Hughes defended the huge outlay, stressing the priority was signing players suited to Arne Slot’s system, rather than obsessing over eye-watering fees. Liverpool’s summer recruits included Ekitike, Frimpong, Kerkez, and Leoni, forming the most expensive squad rebuild in the Premier League. Hughes explained at IMG x RedBird Summit that the club pays what it deems fair market value, focusing on age, role, and necessity above headlines.