The summer transfer window is finally closed, and it was a mixed few months for Liverpool. The club spent a lot of money to bring in exciting new players, tried to fix some problems in the squad, and even had a few wild surprises right before the deadline.
Manager Andoni Iraola now has a clear picture of the team he will work with for the next few months of the season. Some deals cost a fortune, while others look like huge bargains.
To see how well the club did, let's go through every single new signing, look at how they fit into the team, and give them a final grade.
Bradley Barcola
Blockbuster acquisitions rarely arrive without a protracted saga, but weeks of negotiations and months of speculation finally culminated in Bradley Barcola moving to Anfield. The France international winger arrives from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth £106 million plus an additional £17 million in potential add-ons taking the full package to £123m.
At 23 years old, the Frenchman commands an astronomical fee, but the objective is clear: rejuvenate Liverpool's left side of the attack for the next five years. Sought after by numerous European suitors, including Premier League rivals Arsenal, the 23-year-old’s choice serves as a timely reminder that Anfield retains its allure as a dream destination for elite talent.
While some supporters would have preferred funds directed toward the right flank to eventually succeed Mohamed Salah though the new signing is capable of operating there the squad undeniably needed injection of pace, skill, and an honest work-rate following an attack that frequently lacked ideas last term.
Transfer Grade: A*
An exorbitant outlay, but the profile matches the exact long-term ceiling required to keep pace at the summit.
The Hijack: Securing a bargain in Muñoz
While the marquee investment commanded headlines, the £35 million arrival of Víctor Muñoz already has the hallmarks of a masterstroke. Prised away from Osasuna at the eleventh hour after a late intervention hijacked a prospective deal with Newcastle United, the Spanish forward represents shrewd recruitment.
The 23-year-old has hit the ground running, injecting raw power and speed into both flanks and already off the mark with a brilliant goal to rescue a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest. Though his technical game remains a work in progress, the physical traits are immense.
Transfer Grade: A
Tremendous upside for a modest fee in the current market, underscored by an immediate impact.
Defensive Reinforcements: The calculated risk of Araújo
Recruitment architecture of this nature evokes memories of the vintage Liverpool squads of the past. In Ronald Araújo, head coach Andoni Iraola has secured a seasoned operator on loan from FC Barcelona with an option crucially, not an obligation to buy for £47 million at the end of the campaign.
The 27-year-old Uruguay international arrives with over six years of top-flight and European pedigree, addressing an acute vulnerability caused by injuries to Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley, alongside the inconsistent form of Jeremie Frimpong.
Capable of operating centrally or at right-back, his aggressive, front-footed defensive style aligns cleanly with Iraola's tactical demands. While his disciplinary record has occasionally frustrated supporters, the calming presence of Virgil van Dijk should help temper any recklessness.
Transfer Grade: B+
Zero financial compulsion combined with elite-level versatility makes this a low-risk, high-reward piece of business.
The long-awaited arrival: Jérémy Jacquet
It feels like an age ago that Liverpool quietly laid the groundwork for one of France’s most coveted defensive prospects. Though a deal with Stade Rennais was struck back in January before a lingering shoulder injury temporarily halted his momentum, the £60 million man has finally touched down on Merseyside.
A cruel twist of timing meant Jacquet played virtually no part in Andoni Iraola’s first pre-season preparations, robbed of vital tactical integration weeks following his rehabilitation.
Thrown straight into the deep end without the luxury of a gentle bedding-in period, the France under-21 international’s first proper look for match-going fans came as a brief glimpse against Como, before being thrust immediately into Premier League combat against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
Unsurprisingly, the early returns have been a mixed bag of immense physical promise and raw, rough edges. Thrown into the heat of a backline adjusting to Iraola’s front-footed, aggressive demands, Jacquet has shown flashes of his front-foot defending, aggressive ball-winning, and comfort stepping into midfield.
At the same time, the steep jump in tempo has exposed minor positional lapses entirely natural for a young defender adapting on the fly without a functioning pre-season behind him.
Jacquet has the ultimate sounding board to smooth out his decision-making and channel his aggression. The fee is steep, but the ceiling is stratospheric.
Transfer Grade: B+
A significant financial commitment for a player still learning his trade, but the physical and technical raw materials suggest a cornerstone for the post-Van Dijk era.
Brughmans - A
Goalkeeper depth at Anfield hardly looked like an urgent item on the summer checklist. With Alisson Becker, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Freddie Woodman already on the books, few anticipated a surprise twist in the market involving an 18-year-old shot-stopper.
Yet, Liverpool have quietly swooped to secure Lucca Brughmans from KRC Genk in a deal worth around £30 million.
We have agreed a deal to sign goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans from KRC Genk 🔴
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 1, 2026
The 18-year-old has put pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Reds and will now return to Genk for the duration of the 2026-27 season 🧤 pic.twitter.com/9p5z60gE6w
In a structure becoming increasingly common for elite European talent, the towering teenager will spend the remainder of the season back in Belgium on loan before formally moving to Merseyside next summer.
Standing at a colossal 6'7", the Belgium youth international arrives with a towering reputation. His stock across the continent is exceptionally high, underlined by a nomination for the prestigious European Golden Boy award this year.
Replacing Alisson when the time eventually comes is arguably the single hardest task facing Liverpool's recruitment team in the post-Klopp era. While no one expects an immediate succession, committing a significant sum to secure one of Europe’s most coveted young profiles suggests the club is wasting no time laying the groundwork.
Transfer Grade: B+
A hefty fee for a teenager who won't feature immediately, but smart forward-planning for an inevitable future vacuum between the posts.
Samuel Martinez
A deal that has gone under the radar since it happened at the end of July, Liverpool's deal to sign 17 year-old Samuel Martinez could prove to be a very smart bit of business.
Since the success of clubs like Brighton in the South American market - the Seagulls flipped the likes of Caicedo, Mac Allister and Enciso for over £160 million - Reds fans have been clamouring for Liverpool to do the same.
For the modest sum of £750,000, Liverpool have beaten the likes of Bayern Munich, Dortmund and Barcelona to a very highly-rated midfielder. Martinez has been praised for his passing range and close control, and he showcased this with an impressive U17 South American Championship in April, which Colombia won.
It is too soon to say how this move will pan out, but fans will be excited that Liverpool are finally anticipating moves for talents in South America before they are valued in the tens of millions!
Transfer Grade: B
Djylian N'Guessan
Speaking of teenagers with huge potential, Liverpool have also secured the services of 18 year-old striker Djylian N'Guessan, formerly of Saint-Etienne.
The deal is expected to be worth £4 million, and will see the youngster go out on loan to top-flight French club Brest for this season. He will since a pre-contract agreement with Liverpool in January. N'Guessan first caught the eye of scouts during the UEFA Under-17 European Championships, which France lost out on to Portugal in the final.
Like Martinez, this deal represents a gamble, but it is encouraging to see more long-term squad planning from Liverpool, especially in a position that they look light in, given Ekitike's injury woes.
Transfer Grade: B
Rush the Kop final thoughts
In conclusion, every signing that the Reds have made this summer has been impressive on an individual level. They have brought in a world-class attacking talent and a promising winger, as well as signing an experienced and versatile defender on loan.
They have also made three long-term signings that will reinforce the team in key positions, which could prove vital in a team undergoing a huge transition.
However, a familiar anxiety lingers among the Anfield faithful. Despite a frantic window, the club ultimately failed to secure a natural right-winger to permanently succeed the irreplaceable Mohamed Salah, leaving a glaring structural void in the final third.
Compounding those concerns is a dangerously thin defensive line. With Jeremie Frimpong currently the only fit, specialist option at right-back amid ongoing fitness doubts and injuries elsewhere in the defensive unit entering the autumn months with such razor-thin depth feels like an unnecessary gamble.
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