Isak pledges to ‘create history’ with Liverpool following record-breaking transfer in Britain

LONDON, Sept 2 — Alexander Isak has pledged to write his name into Liverpool’s history books after completing a British-record £125 million (RM715 million) transfer from Newcastle on Monday.

The Swedish striker signed a reported six-year deal with the Premier League champions, who sealed the move with an improved bid just before the transfer deadline. His arrival at Anfield has heightened expectations of another dominant era for the Reds — pressure Isak says he is ready to embrace.

“I think it’s a combination of what this club is building and what it already represents. With such history behind it, I want to be part of creating new history,” Isak said.

“My ultimate motivation is to win trophies. This feels like the perfect place to keep growing, take my game to the next level, and help the team achieve more.”

Liverpool’s first offer of £110 million was rejected in August, but Isak’s determination to leave pushed the deal through after a tense saga.

The 25-year-old made clear to Newcastle he wanted the move, even opting to train separately at former club Real Sociedad instead of joining Eddie Howe’s squad in pre-season. Left out of Newcastle’s Asia tour with a supposed thigh issue, Isak accused the club of going back on a promise that he could leave for a top team if the right bid came in.

Despite Howe’s insistence on keeping him, Isak’s 27 goals last season — which fired Newcastle into the Champions League and delivered their first trophy in 56 years with a League Cup win over Liverpool — were not enough to prevent his exit. Newcastle’s weekend signing of Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade paved the way for Isak’s dream move.

“It’s been a long summer, but now I just want to look forward,” Isak said. “It’s done, and I can get back to doing what I love most. I want to win everything.”

Liverpool’s record-breaking summer

Isak’s signing takes Liverpool’s total spending since the end of last season to around £416 million — smashing the previous Premier League record of £400 million set by Chelsea in 2023.

The Reds had already broken their own transfer record with the £100 million capture of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen before surpassing Chelsea’s British transfer record with Isak’s arrival.

Other major recruits include Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi and Giovanni Leoni.

Manager Arne Slot now boasts one of Europe’s most formidable forward lines, with Isak joining Wirtz, Ekitike, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa.

If Liverpool retain the Premier League title this season, they will overtake Manchester United outright as the most successful team in English top-flight history, with 21 championships. The club has not won back-to-back titles since 1982–1984.

Liverpool have already made a strong start under Slot, sitting top of the league with three wins from three, including a 1-0 victory over rivals Arsenal on SIsakunday. — AFP