Wirtz, Frimpong & Kerkez Join Liverpool as Reds Strengthen Squad for Title Defense

By Niko Abian

The Liverpool Football Club has made moves to strengthen its team to have an advantage at winning the 2025-2026 Premier League title. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Wong/Unsplash)

Liverpool Football Club have announced the signing of three new players. Bayer Leverkusen pair Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz as well as Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez will join the team. Liverpool’s early business this summer signals the clubs intent to repeat as champions of the Premier League and push on for more trophies under Manager Arne Slot.

The transfer of Wirtz is the most expensive in the history of British soccer, with the potential to reach over $150 million. The German attacking midfielder played for Leverkusen alongside 24 year old Dutch international Jeremie Frimpong. Liverpool activated the $40 million release clause in Frimpong’s contract with the German club. Both starred under manager Xabi Alonso, who led the team to a historic 2023-2024 season in which the club went undefeated in the league winning both the Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal, the most prestigious knockout tournament in Germany. 

Wirtz joined Leverkusen in 2020 and was considered one of the most exciting young players in the world before tearing his ACL in 2022. Upon his return he quickly got back to form, he was voted 2023-2024 Bundesliga Player of the Season and is now a regular starter for the German national soccer team. He often played in the inside-left channel for Leverkusen, and is renowned for his close control, and dribbling ability. 

FBref’s scouting reports compares player’s stats with other players who play in similar positions and level of competition. Wirtz is in the 96th percentile for successful dribbles past defenders (2.89 per 90 minutes) with a 48.3% success rate (80th percentile). He generates 5.53 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (93rd percentile), with 4.02 from passes (95th) and 0.87 from dribbling (96th).

The attacking midfielder’s 6.63 progressive passes per 90 (93rd percentile)—defined as passes advancing the ball over 10 yards or into the penalty area—combined with his 11.08 progressive passes received (89th percentile) and 64.10 total passes attempted (99th percentile) suggest a potential evolution into a deeper-lying playmaker role. His ability to dictate tempo through line-breaking distribution and intelligent positioning mirrors the profiles of midfield metronomes like Xavi or Thiago Alcântara, indicating he could thrive as a central orchestrator in addition to his current advanced creative duties.

Frimpong’s arrival comes in the wake of Liverpool’s star right back Trent Alexander-Arnold joining Real Madrid. Leverkusen acquired Frimpong in 2021 and was often used as a wing-back as a part of a back five under Xabi Alonso. In this system Frimpong pushed high and wide occupying the positions that wingers traditionally work in.

While Alexander-Arnold and Jeremie Frimpong are both regarded as right backs, they provide distinct skill sets and Frimpong’s arrival brings new tactical options for Arne Slot, Liverpools’ manager .

Whereas Alexander-Arnold was known for his deep crosses, long passing and tendency to drift into the midfield when in possession, Frimpong uses his dribbling ability to deliver crosses from more advanced areas often finding himself as far forward as the opponents 18 yard box.

The addition of Frimpong opens up the possibility to allow Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to play as he did in his record breaking 2017-2018 season with Liverpool. When Salah first joined Liverpool Alexander-Arnold made overlapping runs in support while Salah played as an inside forward.

As Alexander-Arnold began to join the midfield more often, Salah would find himself in wide areas, and adapted his game to continue his success. He became renowned for his crossing ability and produced a career high 18 assists in the 2024-2025 season, many of which came from crosses.

Milos Kerkez, a 21-year-old Hungarian left-back, joins Liverpool from Bournemouth after impressing with his attacking runs and defensive tenacity. He shone at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar before moving to the Premier League, where he quickly became a standout full-back. 

Liverpool’s signing of Kerkez suggests a long-term plan to replace veteran left-back Andy Robertson. At 21, Kerkez shares similarities with a younger Robertson—elite stamina, and athleticism. Both excel at overlapping runs and defensive recovery, making Kerkez a natural successor.

Kerkez showed adept dribbling last season, he was in the 86th percentile for Progressive Carries with 2.86 per 90 minutes. He was also successful with 63.2% of his attempted tackles, which was good enough to reach the 71st percentile. This level of success is especially strong for an attacking fullback like Kerkez who spends so much time up the pitch. 

In order to finance these additions Liverpool have been active in selling some of their players. Academy graduate Jarrell Quansah has been sold to Leverkusen for $41 million, and backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was sold to Brentford for about $24 million. Italian champions Napoli have been in talks to buy Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez, according to reporter Fabrizio Romano, but this could be complicated by the tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.

Liverpool are said to be interested in many forwards, but nothing has been confirmed as of now.