Jurgen Klopp: 'Dominik Szoboszlai is Liverpool's present and future'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 04 July 2023

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hails Dominik Szoboszlai as the Reds' "present" and "future" following the Hungary international's £60.2m transfer from RB Leipzig.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hailed Dominik Szoboszlai as the "present" and "future" of the club following his £60.2m arrival from RB Leipzig.

The Hungary international became Liverpool's second signing of the summer window on Sunday after the Merseyside giants triggered the release clause in his Leipzig contract.

Szoboszlai has penned a five-year deal with Klopp's side until 2028 and has inherited the number eight shirt, which was worn by Steven Gerrard for 11 years and most recently sported by Naby Keita.

Szoboszlai's arrival adds to Liverpool's midfield refresh following the capture of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion, and Klopp has affirmed that he could not be more grateful to the Reds' hierarchy for engineering the marquee transfer.

"The first thing for me to say is welcome to Liverpool, Dominik. I know how excited he is to be here with us, so it is important that he understands that we are all just as excited to have him," Klopp told liverpoolfc.com.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reacts on May 6, 2023 © Reuters

"From the clubs he has been at, the leagues he has played in and the family he is part of, it is very clear that he has already had an outstanding football education, so our responsibility now is to continue this education with him as part of the Liverpool family.

"Everything about this is good news and I am very grateful to everyone at the club who has contributed to making it happen. This is a signing for our present and also for our future and the work that has gone into it could not be more appreciated."

Szoboszlai has already experienced a taste of the Anfield atmosphere from his time at Red Bull Salzburg, who faced Liverpool in the group stage of the 2019-20 Champions League.

The 22-year-old played 71 minutes of that encounter on Merseyside as Salzburg lost 4-3, and Klopp has insisted that there is "no pressure" on Szoboszlai's shoulders to hit the ground running in the Premier League.

"We already have a little knowledge of Dominik as an opponent because we had a couple of really tough games against Red Bull Salzburg when he was a player there and I think everyone who saw those fixtures will have realised that even at that stage he was a really interesting prospect," Klopp added.

RB Leipzig's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates winning the DFB Pokal on June 3, 2023 © Reuters

"I'm pretty sure he was still a teenager at that time and since then he has made some big strides – moving to Leipzig, doing really, really well in the Bundesliga, playing for the Hungary national team and then becoming captain of his national team at an incredibly young age.

"These are proper positives and this is even before we even think about his qualities as a footballer. I will not say too much about them at this stage except they are definitely the kind which will hopefully bring a lot of enjoyment and also help us to get results.

"There is no pressure, though. Dominik is still a very young player. He has so much development ahead of him and this means it makes sense for us all to be patient and to give him the time and space to allow his talent to come through within our team.

"The good thing is we have supporters who understand this process. I know the fans are as excited as we are but I am also aware, because I have seen it many times already, that they will be a massive help to us in terms of creating the conditions that will allow Dominik to thrive."

Szoboszlai departs Leipzig having registered 20 goals and 22 assists in 91 matches for the club over the past two-and-a-half years, winning back-to-back DFB-Pokal titles in 2022 and 2023.