Milos Kerkez has sealed a £40m transfer move from Bournemouth to Liverpool (Picture: Getty)
Liverpool have completed the signing of Milos Kerkez after agreeing a £40million deal with Bournemouth for the left-back.
Kerkez caught a flight from Belgrade, Serbia, to England on Monday to undergo a medical with the Premier League champions, putting an end to weeks of speculation.
It’s understood Kerkez has put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Anfield, tying him to the Merseyside giants until 2030. Liverpool will confirm the 21-year-old’s squad number later this summer.
The Hungary international becomes the Reds’ fourth signing of the transfer window, with the club having already brought in Bayer Leverkusen duo Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, plus Puskas Akademia goalkeeper Armin Pecsi.
‘I’m really happy,’ Kerkez told Liverpool’s official website.
‘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.
‘After this, I’ll go home and in my hometown enjoy a few days, and then I can’t really wait to come back and put the training kit on and start to train and prepare for the season.’
Kerkez has signed a long-term contract with the English champions (Picture: Getty)
The young left-back made 74 appearances in all competitions for Bournemouth (Picture: Getty)
After signing on the dotted line, Kerkez thanked Liverpool fans for the support they had shown in the lead-up to the announcement.
‘I just want to thank everyone for really showing me big love, even before it will be announced now,’ he added.
‘And keep supporting the team like you support always, because you’re the biggest fan base in the world.
‘I’m going to give everything – absolutely everything – to win trophies with the club and to hopefully score some goals at Anfield. I can’t wait to hear the roar. And see you soon.’
The Reds have moved quickly to bolster Slot’s title-winning squad (Picture: Getty)
In private talks with Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, Arne Slot made it clear he desired a wing-back in the mold of Kerkez to provide greater support and competition for Andy Robertson on the left flank.
Kerkez has established himself as one of the most sought-after young left-backs in European football over the last two seasons and Bournemouth became increasingly resigned to losing him as Liverpool stepped up their pursuit.
The Hungarian made 74 appearances in all competitions for Bournemouth having joined the club from Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar in 2023.
Robertson looks set for a fight for his place at left-back (Picture: Getty)
The Cherries have more than doubled what they spent to lure Kerkez to the Vitality Stadium two years ago.
Determined not to leave themselves short at left-back, Bournemouth moved quickly to sign Kerkez’s would-be replacement as they wrapped up an agreement for Rennes’ Adrien Truffert.
The Ligue 1 outfit turned down Bournemouth’s two opening bids for the 23-year-old France international before shaking hands on a proposal worth up to €17m (£14.5m).
Former Liverpool star Carragher has waxed lyrical about Kerkez’s potential (Picture: Getty)
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has made no secret of his admiration for Kerkez and first talked up a move for the ‘superb’ full-back after Bournemouth’s 3-0 win at Manchester United last December.
‘Kerkez has been a revelation at Bournemouth. The technical director who brought him to Bournemouth [Richard Hughes] is now the sporting director at Liverpool,’ Carragher said on Sky Sports.
‘Kerkez looks like a full-back and he’s aggressive. He’s been superb since he came into the Premier League and is one to watch in the future whether he stays or moves on.
‘Left back is definitely an area Liverpool should be looking to strengthen in January.’
Kerkez becomes the Reds’ fourth new recruit of the window (Picture: Getty)
Carragher has been adamant that Kerkez’s arrival would be beneficial for Robertson as the Scot prepares for a ninth season on Merseyside.
The ex-Liverpool and England defender added: ‘Andy Robertson needs help.
‘He’s a Liverpool legend, he’s won the lot, but the amount of games he’s played, playing in a Jurgen Klopp team, constantly just running up and down that wing for five or six years. He needs a little bit of help in that position.
‘Obviously Richard Hughes must know that player really well and really likes him. I’m sure he’ll know his contract situation seeing as he probably did the contract for him.
‘Liverpool didn’t do too much business in the summer but that’s an area that they have to rectify in January rather than wait until the summer.’
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