Liverpool have bolstered their defensive ranks with the acquisition of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, the club confirmed on Friday. Though financial terms remain undisclosed, UK media outlets suggest the 24-year-old has inked a five-year contract, with the deal valued at €35 million (£29.5 million).
The announcement follows swiftly on the heels of another major development—Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to leave Anfield for Real Madrid, where he’ll be available in time for the Club World Cup. With Frimpong’s release clause triggered, Liverpool appear to have lined up a swift and experienced successor at right-back.
A driving force behind Leverkusen’s maiden Bundesliga championship in the 2023/24 season, Frimpong featured in 53 games across all competitions this past campaign, helping the German side finish second in the league standings.
Competition for the right-back slot at Liverpool will be fierce, however. Conor Bradley, who recently penned a new four-year deal, will also be pushing for regular minutes under new head coach Arne Slot.
Frimpong began his footballing journey in the youth system at Manchester City before moving north to Celtic in 2019. His performances in Scotland paved the way for a move to Germany in early 2021, where he flourished with Leverkusen.
The Netherlands international now reunites with a strong Dutch contingent at Liverpool, including manager Slot, captain Virgil van Dijk, forward Cody Gakpo, and midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s dealings with Leverkusen may not be over. The club is in advanced negotiations to sign star midfielder Florian Wirtz, Frimpong’s former teammate. Reports claim Liverpool have submitted an enhanced £109 million ($146 million) offer, including performance-based add-ons that could make Wirtz the costliest player in the club’s history.
Wirtz, who has caught the attention of Bayern Munich and Manchester City, is believed to have expressed a clear preference to join Liverpool ahead of the new season.
The 22-year-old playmaker played a pivotal role in Leverkusen’s Bundesliga triumph and was deservedly named the league’s Player of the Season for 2023/24. He made 31 appearances in the Bundesliga this term, scoring 10 goals and providing numerous assists as Leverkusen narrowly missed out on back-to-back titles.
Since making his debut at just 17 after joining from Cologne in 2020, Wirtz has racked up 57 goals in 197 appearances for the German outfit.
