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.
Liverpool have signed Alexander Isak for £130m[/caption]
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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 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 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.
“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 win everything.”
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.
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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 was pictured posing with a Magpies shirt after completing his medical in the North-East – although his £55m switch from Brentford was not confirmed by the time the Isak deal got announced.
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Isak arrived at Liverpool’s training ground for his medical on Monday morning[/caption]
The fee eclipses the £116.5m Liverpool paid for Florian Wirtz[/caption]
