Alexander Isak Turned Down Premier League Rivals Before Liverpool Switch

Swedish striker rejected Chelsea interest to complete a record £125m move to Liverpool, setting a new Premier League transfer benchmark.

 

 

Alexander Isak became the costliest signing in Premier League history after completing a record-breaking move from Newcastle United to Liverpool.

 

Reports reveal that Chelsea attempted to lure the Swedish forward to Stamford Bridge earlier in the summer, but Isak had already made up his mind that Anfield was his preferred destination.

 

The 25-year-old striker, who had been considering a departure from Newcastle since April, grew increasingly frustrated as talks stalled. His public push for a transfer eventually helped secure the £125 million ($167.9m) deal—setting a new British transfer record.

 

Chelsea, active in the early stages of the transfer window, brought in Liam Delap from Ipswich for £30m and João Pedro from Brighton for £60m. Alongside those moves, they also reached out to Isak’s camp, only to be told he was holding out for Liverpool.

 

According to The Athletic, Liverpool became aware of Isak’s interest in May but approached the deal cautiously due to the financial scale involved. The striker’s determination only grew after Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitiké, which seemingly pushed Isak to increase pressure on Newcastle.

 

In the end, his persistence paid off as he sealed his dream switch to Liverpool on Deadline Day. He is expected to make his debut on September 14 against Burnley.

 

Chelsea, meanwhile, will be satisfied with their attacking recruits, with Pedro starting strongly with five goals and two assists in six games, while Delap impressed before suffering an untimely injury ahead of the international break.