Liverpool tie down Szoboszlai on five-year deal amid exodus
Liverpool have secured midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to a five-year contract, providing crucial squad stability and a future leadership anchor after a summer of high-profile departures.
Dominik Szoboszlai has signed a new five-year contract at Liverpool, committing his future to the club until 2031. The 25-year-old Hungary international had two years remaining on his previous deal, but months of negotiations with sporting director Richard Hughes concluded this week.
The agreement represents a vital piece of strategic business for the Anfield club. The team has endured a turbulent transfer window, losing key assets including Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate departed for Real Madrid. Securing a player who arrived for £60m from RB Leipzig in 2023 protects a significant asset, especially with Virgil van Dijk and Alisson seeing their contracts expire in 12 months.
Szoboszlai’s value to the club extends well beyond the balance sheet. Despite a "forgettable 2025-26 campaign" for the team, the midfielder was named Liverpool's player of the season after scoring 13 goals and providing 12 assists. "I want to win everything that is possible in this country, also let's say the Champions League," Szoboszlai said. "I'm ready to go for it."
The new contract also addresses an emerging leadership vacuum as the squad transitions under new head coach Andoni Iraola. With Robertson leaving, Szoboszlai is a strong contender to assume the vice-captaincy, a role he holds at international level. Previous head coach Arne Slot regularly praised his attributes, though noted there is "still a step to make in terms of leadership" compared to Van Dijk.
Liverpool clearly view the midfielder as a foundational figure for the post-Klopp, post-Slot era. When he first arrived, Jurgen Klopp described him as "a signing for our present and also for our future." Szoboszlai returned to Merseyside on Tuesday for pre-season training and will travel with the squad to the United States next week.
