It's official! Kerkez arrives at Liverpool: 'It's a real honour for me...'
Liverpool has bolstered their squad with a £40 million signing of left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, bringing their summer spending to approximately £170 million. The 21-year-old Hungarian international's arrival on a five-year deal marks him as the Reds' third major recruit, and his impressive Premier League performances suggest he's set to challenge established starters.
Liverpool has significantly invested in their defensive line, confirming the signing of highly-rated left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth in a deal reportedly worth £40 million. This acquisition pushes the Reds' summer spending to around £170 million, following the earlier arrivals of attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz (£116m) and right-back Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m), both from Bayer Leverkusen, alongside Hungary U21 keeper Armin Pecsi (£1.5m).
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Kerkez, a 21-year-old Hungarian international, has committed his future to Anfield with a five-year contract. Expressing his excitement, Kerkez stated, "It's a real honour for me, a privilege to come to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, [the] biggest club in England. I'm just really, really happy and excited." He added that he "can't really wait to come back and put the training kit on and start to train and prepare for the season." This summer will also see the official arrival of Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, for whom Liverpool agreed a £25 million deal plus £4 million in add-ons last summer.
"This is the club that wants to win. Needs to win." 👊
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 26, 2025
Head to All Red Video to hear Milos Kerkez's first interview as a Red 💻
This move represents another significant step for Kerkez, who previously had a brief, unstarted stint at AC Milan after being convinced to join by club legend Paolo Maldini in early 2021. After never playing a competitive match for Milan, he moved to AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie a year later. Bournemouth then took a chance on Kerkez in July 2023, a gamble that paid off handsomely. He started all 38 of the Cherries' Premier League games in the 2024-25 season, contributing to a club-record 56 points and a top-half finish, showcasing his immense potential.
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Kerkez's impact at Bournemouth
Kerkez was a standout performer for Bournemouth under manager Andoni Iraola's high-intensity philosophy. He ranked second among all Premier League full-backs for distance covered and third for sprints in 2024-25, highlighting his relentless energy. Offensively, he made the third-most crosses from open play and contributed eight goal involvements (two goals, six assists). Defensively, while not the most prolific tackler, he was still in the Premier League's top 20 full-backs for interceptions (1.25 per 90) and ball recoveries (4.54 per 90). His brilliant performance in Bournemouth's 2-1 win over Manchester City in November, where he set up both goals, earned widespread praise from pundits like Micah Richards. Joe Partington called him a "standout player," and Nedum Onuoha hailed him as "one of the best left-back prospects in the Premier League."
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Fitting into Liverpool's squad
Kerkez's arrival inevitably raises questions about the future of established Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson. While Robertson, 31, has been a cornerstone of Liverpool's success, including Champions League and two Premier League titles, he trailed Kerkez in key offensive metrics like assists, distance covered, and possession won last season. Robertson is also a reported target for Atletico Madrid.
According to Jordan Clarke, Bournemouth commentator for BBC Radio Solent, "If they want that style of full-back, then Kerkez has already shown he can do it in the Premier League. He's very self-confident." Liverpool fan and podcaster Lukleiva echoed this sentiment, suggesting Kerkez wouldn't join just to be a backup. "You definitely want Kerkez [to start]," he said, implying it might prompt Robertson to seek more regular football elsewhere. Kerkez's arrival will likely signal the end of the road at Anfield for either Robertson or second-choice left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas, as the club looks to integrate their new £40 million man.
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Off the pitch, Kerkez is known as "a real character," with teammates like Justin Kluivert and Adam Smith highlighting his positive energy and confidence. His playful personality, including his penchant for changing hairstyles, suggests he'll quickly integrate into the Liverpool dressing room.
