Isak's Military Service: The Final Act of the Summer Transfer Window! The Premier League's Grand Finale?

Written by Han Bing Better late than never. On the September 1st deadline of the summer window, after nearly six weeks of intense negotiations, Isak, who was ready to strike and sit out to force a move, finally got what he wanted. The transfer drama concluded on the final day with no surprises, only a win-win result for the player and the two clubs. Isak got his wish, Liverpool paid less than Newcastle's asking price, and the Magpies executed a "one-for-two" deal, using the income from Isak’s sale to acquire forwards Waltemade and Visa.

The transfer saga of Isak, the Premier League’s record signing, began on July 15 when Liverpool’s initial inquiry to Newcastle was rejected. Liverpool simultaneously secured backup striker Ekittik, sold Diaz to fund the Isak deal, and reached a personal agreement with Isak to gain leverage. On July 19, Isak left Newcastle, effectively going on strike. On July 24, citing a thigh injury, he missed the team’s Asia tour and submitted a transfer request to Newcastle. He returned on August 2 but trained separately, clearly showing his stance. After Liverpool’s £110 million plus add-ons offer was rejected on August 1, the transfer stalled, and Isak started pressing Newcastle more firmly.

On August 19, Isak skipped the Professional Footballers’ Association awards and publicly accused Newcastle of breaking promises on social media. Meanwhile, he missed Newcastle’s first three games of the new season. On August 25, Newcastle’s Saudi owner, Rumman, visited Isak’s home for a final attempt, but the failed negotiation marked a turning point in the transfer. Newcastle accelerated plans to find a replacement; on August 30, Waltemade joined, opening the green light for Isak’s move. Liverpool’s £125 million offer arrived just in time, and the deal was sealed on the transfer deadline day, September 1. Liverpool paid £125 million, Newcastle received a £5 million training compensation fee, and after deducting Real Sociedad’s 10% sell-on clause (€7.45 million), the net income was €137 million.

Although the outcome was a three-way win, there was some bitterness. Newcastle’s announcement of Isak’s departure was only 37 words long and lacked even an official farewell. The club also withheld Isak’s loyalty bonus as punishment for his strike and transfer pressure tactics. However, the transfer income played a crucial role: Newcastle successfully signed Visa for £55 million (63.6 million euros) on deadline day and, combined with Waltemade (£75 million plus £5 million), effectively exchanged one player for two, significantly strengthening their attack at almost zero net cost.

But the “mutual commitment” between Isak and Liverpool brought joy to both parties. Isak chose the No. 9 shirt left vacant by Núñez’s departure. After joining Liverpool, Isak expressed his excitement in an interview with the club’s TV channel: “I’m super happy and proud, really looking forward to my future at Liverpool. Wearing the red jersey is an incredible experience; we all know what Liverpool and its fans mean.”

Although Isak completed his medical and signed with Liverpool on September 1, he had to join the Swedish national team immediately. After finishing World Cup qualifiers on September 9 and returning to the UK, Liverpool officially held a grand press conference to introduce their new record signing. This summer, Liverpool broke the Premier League record twice; along with Ekittik (€95 million), the three most expensive players in club history were all signed this summer. The total transfer fee for Liverpool’s attacking trident reached €364.5 million, making it the most expensive frontline in Premier League history, second only to PSG’s Neymar-Cavani-Mbappé trio (€464.5 million), ranking second worldwide.

Is Isak worth the record-breaking £125 million (€144.5 million)? Last season’s stats partly justify Liverpool’s trust: Isak’s Premier League goals per game (0.75) surpassed Haaland’s (0.72), though his shots per game (3.2) were fewer than Haaland’s (3.6), showing higher efficiency in front of goal. He also created more chances per game (1.4), attempted more dribbles (3.1), touched the ball more often in the box (6.9), and won possession more times (1.8) than the Manchester City striker. Even defensively, Isak averaged 1.17 actions per game, leading as well.

It’s worth noting these stats came despite Isak having less attacking support at Newcastle compared to what Haaland enjoys at Man City, making his performance even more impressive. Manchester City’s total cost for Haaland was €130 million, including €60 million transfer fee plus €70 million signing bonus and commissions, so Isak’s €144.5 million fee doesn’t seem excessive. Liverpool managed three consecutive Premier League wins without Isak, but their attack lacked fluidity. As Liverpool prepare for both Premier League and Champions League campaigns, Isak undoubtedly strengthens Klopp’s options for rotating the frontline.

Isak’s arrival completes Liverpool’s title-challenging squad for the new season, with the only regret being the last-minute failure to sign Crystal Palace defender Guehi. Otherwise, Liverpool’s summer transfer business would have been flawless. The marathon negotiation for the Premier League’s record signing Isak has concluded, and Liverpool’s new sporting director Hughes can also take a breather. Isak’s parents, who have always influenced his career decisions, will continue to live in Liverpool with his sister to support him and help him integrate quickly into the new team.

This summer transfer window has been a record-breaking “crazy” period for both Liverpool and the Premier League. Besides securing two record signings, Liverpool’s summer spending (€484 million) surpassed Chelsea’s (€464 million), making them the biggest spenders in a single transfer window. Can such unprecedented investment bring unprecedented success? Only time will tell.