ALEXANDER ISAK has finally completed his £130million record British transfer to Liverpool.
The messy summer saga dragged on for the duration of the window – and beyond it.
PALiverpool have signed Alexander Isak for £130m[/caption]
ReutersArne Slot got his man at long last with the signing confirmed after the transfer window closed[/caption]
But Liverpool eventually and officially got their man two-and-a-half hours after the 7pm deadline.
Newcastle changed their stance with 24 hours to go, relenting that they would accept £130m for their sulking wantaway striker.
And Liverpool – who had an opening £110m bid rejected a month ago – pounced with a swoop late last night before wrapping up the transfer today.
The deal is understood to see Liverpool stump up £125m with an additional £5m in solidarity payments.
Isak, 25, arrived at the Reds’ training ground in Kirkby early on Monday morning for his medical before signing a six-year deal with the champions.
The forward, who claimed the No9 shirt at Anfield, said: “I feel amazing.
“It’s a mixture of what the club is building, but what they’re building on top of what the club already is. The history of the club.
“It’s been a long journey to get here. But I’m super-happy to be a part of this team, this club and everything it stands for. It’s something I’m proud of and I’m really looking forward to it.
“I’m just happy it’s done and that I can get back to work. I’m looking forward to seeing my team-mates and the fans, and getting back out there.
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“I think I have a lot to give, I think I have a lot to improve. I’m a striker but I always want to give as much as possible to the team, mainly goals but much more than that as well.
“I want to create history. I want to win trophies. I want to win everything.
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“That’s ultimately the biggest motivation for me and I feel like this is the perfect place for me to grow even further and to take my game to the next level and help the team as well.
“I feel like this is the next step for me in my career. I’m super-happy that I’ve been given this chance and I’m very motivated to do something well with it.”
On getting the No9 jersey, vacated by Darwin Nunez earlier in the summer window, Isak added: “It means a lot, it’s an iconic number.
“Obviously it comes with a responsibility as well but I’m delighted to have this chance and to get this number.
“I’m just motivated to start working and hopefully giving back as well.”
The striker, who missed out on the Golden Boot last term to new team-mate Mo Salah, scored on both of his appearances at Anfield for his former club.
Isak to Liverpool transfer saga timeline
JANUARY: First links to Liverpool emerge
FEBRUARY: £150million record fee mooted
MARCH: Isak denies Newcastle contract talk
APRIL: Eddie Howe hails Isak as “very professional.”
MAY: Howe insists Isak will not be sold
Last match in Newcastle shirt
JUNE: Transfer links to Liverpool heat up
JULY: Flies with Newcastle for Austria training camp
Left out of Celtic friendly
Liverpool hijack Toon’s Hugo Ekitike deal after making Isak enquiry
Doesn’t travel for pre-season tour of Singapore and South Korea, citing injury
AUGUST: Training by himself at Newcastle
Liverpool have £110m bid rejected
Isak stops training and goes on strike
Moves out of his apartment
Releases angry statement blasting ‘trust has been lost’
Newcastle respond by insisting he won’t be sold unless it benefits club
Misses Newcastle’s first three games of season, including 3-2 defeat to Liverpool
Newcastle relent and will accept £130m with 24 hours of window left
Liverpool have £130m bid accepted on Aug 31
SEPTEMBER: Isak travels to Liverpool for medical on deadline day morning
Liverpool announce British record signing on deadline day at 9.30pm – two-and-a-half hours after transfer window closes
Takes No9 shirt at Anfield
Newcastle release blunt 37-word statement confirming exit
On walking out in the famous red at the iconic stadium, he continued: “It’s so exciting. I think it’s something difficult to put into words, I think you have to experience it and then explain.
“I think we all know what Liverpool is about, the fans and what they’re about as well. So I’m looking forward to getting to experience that.”
Newcastle released a blunt 37-word statement to confirm the sale of Isak, who joined the club for £63m and scored in the Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool in March – ending the Magpies’ 70-year wait for a trophy.
The Toon said: “Newcastle United can announce the sale of striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a significant British record transfer fee.
“The Sweden international joined the Magpies from Real Sociedad in 2022 and made 109 appearances in all competitions.”
The timing of the transfer means Isak was not available to play for Liverpool at Newcastle last Monday.
The Swedish star sat out of the match on strike after his bombshell statement and refusal to play for the Magpies again.
Newcastle chiefs visited Isak at his home last week to try and convince him to change his mind and sign a new deal with a release clause activating next summer.
But Isak’s heart was set on Anfield.
He becomes the most expensive player in British football history – eclipsing the £116.5m his new club splashed out on Florian Wirtz earlier in the summer.
Liverpool, though, were not able to get Marc Guehi over the line.
The deal collapsed despite the Crystal Palace defender starting his medical because the Eagles could not get a replacement in.
But even so, Arne Slot’s summer business ranks among the best transfer windows of all time for any club.
Newcastle missed out on Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool in this window while targets Liam Delap, Benjamin Sesko and Joao Pedro all snubbed them for moves elsewhere in the Premier League.
But the Toon have already splashed out a club-record £69m on giant forward Nick Woltemade as an Isak replacement.
And Yoane Wissa completed his £55m switch from Brentford.
Wissa was pictured posing with a Magpies shirt after completing his medical in the North-East.
But the move did not get announced until 10pm, 30 minutes after the Isak deal was confirmed.
PAIsak arrived at Liverpool’s training ground for his medical on Monday morning[/caption]
GettyThe fee eclipses the £116.5m Liverpool paid for Florian Wirtz[/caption]
