Liverpool snatch Premier League rival’s deal for World Cup star to land Andoni Iraola’s first signing
Liverpool have made their first signing under new coach Andoni Iraola by surprisingly swooping in to steal a deal from another Premier League club. While the World Cup is grabbing everyone’s attention in North America, it’s easy to forget that the Premier League transfer window is already open.
Unlike most big European leagues that start their transfer windows on July 1, the Premier League kicked off theirs on June 15. This means English clubs have had extra time to sort out deals. Even before the window officially opened, some teams were busy making moves. For example, Manchester United reportedly agreed on a £35 million deal to sign Brazilian midfielder Ederson from Atalanta.
Liverpool, on the other hand, seemed quiet as they adjusted to life with their new manager Iraola, who took over from Arne Slot earlier this month. But that all changed when Liverpool surprised everyone by signing Osasuna forward Víctor Muñoz. Muñoz had been in advanced talks with Newcastle recently, but Liverpool stepped in late and quickly agreed terms, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Liverpool will pay €40 million (£34.5 million) to trigger Muñoz’s release clause, with the deal expected to be finalized in the next few days. Muñoz joined Osasuna from Real Madrid last July, and the Spanish club will get €20 million from this transfer. Real Madrid had a buy-back option, believed to be around £30 million, but chose not to use it before Liverpool moved in.
Ben Jacobs reports that Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes and football chief Michael Edwards pushed for this signing. Muñoz is set to sign a six-year contract with Liverpool. Currently playing for Spain in international duty, he is seen as one of the most exciting young players at the 2026 World Cup.
It’s no surprise that several top European teams, including Newcastle and Barcelona, were keen on Muñoz in recent weeks. During his breakthrough season at Osasuna, the 22-year-old scored six goals and made two assists in 34 games across all competitions.
Muñoz mainly plays on the left wing, making him a promising talent to build on as a starter for Liverpool in the future. This might also point to Cody Gakpo’s rumored desire to leave. Newcastle viewed Muñoz as a perfect replacement for Anthony Gordon after Gordon’s move to their club. Muñoz has also played a lot on the right wing, so Liverpool fans might be hoping he could become the long-awaited replacement for Mohamed Salah.