Liverpool have officially completed the £40 million signing of Bournemouth’s talented left-back, Milos Kerkez. The 21-year-old passed his medical earlier today at the AXA Training Centre in Merseyside and has signed a five-year contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2030. This move is part of Liverpool’s continued squad overhaul under new manager Arne Slot. The deal, confirmed by multiple trusted sources, including Fabrizio Romano, marks Liverpool’s third major signing this summer, following Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m) and Florian Wirtz (£116m), both from Bayer Leverkusen.
Kerkez originally joined Bournemouth from AZ Alkmaar for £15.5 million in July 2023 and quickly established himself as one of the Premier League’s top-performing full-backs. He started every league game last season, scoring twice and assisting six times, while playing a key role in helping Bournemouth secure a record-high ninth-place finish with 56 points. Known for his relentless energy and attacking prowess, Kerkez delivered 476 passes into the final third (ranking 10th among Premier League defenders) and completed 22 successful dribbles. His 169 ball recoveries and 34 chances created from open play demonstrate his suitability for Slot’s high-press, possession-heavy system.
The move was orchestrated by Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes, who previously brought Kerkez to Bournemouth during his time as their technical director. Leveraging his strong relationship with both the player and the club, Hughes was pivotal in finalizing the transfer, which could rise to £45 million with add-ons. Kerkez’s father, Sebastijan, expressed the family’s confidence in Hughes during the Super Indirektno podcast, saying, “For us, Liverpool was the only choice. If he had told us we were going to India, we would have gone.” Kerkez had also shown his desire to join Liverpool by engaging with club-related content on social media and expressing his ambition to compete at the highest level in an interview with The Athletic earlier this year.
Kerkez’s signing introduces uncertainty around Liverpool’s current left-back options. Veteran Andy Robertson, now 31, is rumored to be a target for Atlético Madrid as he approaches the final year of his contract, while Kostas Tsimikas may also look for more consistent playing time elsewhere. In preparation for Kerkez’s exit, Bournemouth moved swiftly to bring in Rennes’ Adrien Truffert and Argentina U23 star Julio Soler as replacements. The £40 million deal makes Kerkez Liverpool’s most expensive full-back in history and ranks as the club’s 12th-largest transfer fee, behind only Virgil van Dijk among defenders.
Liverpool’s total summer expenditure now surpasses £200 million, underscoring the club’s determination to defend their Premier League title and contend strongly in the Champions League. Fans on X have reacted with excitement, describing Kerkez as a potential long-term successor to Robertson, though some worry about the possibility of the Scottish defender leaving. As Liverpool also pursue Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guéhi and Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, the acquisition of Kerkez represents a significant step in ushering in a new era focused on youth and ambition at Anfield
