Liverpool transfer: Szoboszlai agrees long-term deal
Dominik Szoboszlai has agreed terms in principle on a new long-term Liverpool contract, settling a key Liverpool transfer question after months of talks with sporting director Richard Hughes. The Hungary midfielder is close to signing, while Aston Villa send João Gomes for a medical.
Key Takeaways
- Szoboszlai, 25, has agreed a long-term Anfield deal in principle and is close to signing.
- Talks ran for months between Richard Hughes and the midfielder's representatives.
- He scored 13 goals and provided 12 assists last season after a £60m move from Leipzig in 2023.
- Aston Villa are advancing a move for Wolves midfielder João Gomes as a Tielemans replacement.
- The extension is a major early boost for new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
According to The Guardian, terms have been agreed in principle and the standout midfielder is poised to commit long term. The Athletic and BBC Sport report the same outline: an extension is near after stalled talks last season.
For fans tracking wider club strategy beyond the pitch, more coverage sits in our Future Tech & AI Wonders section.
Has Dominik Szoboszlai really agreed a new Liverpool deal?
Yes. Multiple reports say an outline agreement is in place following months of negotiations. Szoboszlai still has two years left on his current contract, which runs to 2028, but Liverpool moved to lock him in rather than risk another free-agency drama.
He had publicly noted last season that there had been “no real progression” on an extension. That friction had fueled concern about his long-term future even as he became Liverpool’s most consistent performer under Arne Slot.
Finer details may still need finishing, The Athletic notes, but the midfielder is close to putting pen to paper. BBC Sport says he returned to Merseyside on Tuesday for pre-season and will join the club’s United States tour next week.
Why does this Liverpool transfer news matter for Iraola?
Andoni Iraola inherits a squad reshaped by free-agent exits. Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all left without fees at the end of last season, raising the stakes on keeping elite performers.
Szoboszlai joined from RB Leipzig for £60m in 2023 and helped Liverpool win the 2024-25 Premier League title. In a difficult 2025-26 campaign that ended with Slot’s dismissal, he still delivered 13 goals and 12 assists in 53 appearances—the first Liverpool midfielder to hit double figures in both since Steven Gerrard in 2013-14.
With Robertson gone, Liverpool need a new vice-captain. Szoboszlai is a strong contender alongside Alisson, having already captained Hungary for three years and drawn leadership praise from Virgil van Dijk.
Where does João Gomes fit into the transfer picture?
Separately, Aston Villa are closing on João Gomes. The Wolves midfielder was due to fly back from the relegated club’s Algarve camp on Thursday for a medical. Villa have long admired the Brazil international, who was also wanted by Atlético Madrid.
Gomes is earmarked as a direct replacement for Youri Tielemans after Manchester United triggered a £35m release clause. Villa are also close to a £52m club-record move for Freiburg’s Johan Manzambi and are working on a reunion with Pervis Estupinan from Milan, while Lucas Digne is poised to join Paris Saint-Germain for £10m.
Szoboszlai’s near-done extension ends one Anfield soap opera just as Villa’s midfield rebuild accelerates. For Liverpool, securing a peak-age midfielder after a turbulent season is the clearest statement yet of Iraola’s immediate priorities.