Football News

🖋️ Tamas | ⏱️ 4 min read | 📅 July 16, 2026 | 🏷️ Sports

From Salah to Van Dijk: Jürgen Klopp's Top 10 Liverpool Signings Ranked

Jürgen Klopp has certainly made headlines this summer with his punditry work at the World Cup, and now he is poised to return to management with Germany. The DFB has confirmed that the 59-year-old has essentially agreed to all terms to replace Julian Nagelsmann as the head coach of "Die Mannschaft."

Upon his emotional departure from Liverpool in 2024, Klopp famously suggested that he would never return to management. The former Borussia Dortmund boss has been working as the Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull since early 2025, overseeing the energy drink giant's network of football clubs, including RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg.

However, Klopp's stance on retirement has changed, and he is now tasked with returning Germany to its former glories following some dismal recent exits at major international tournaments. The enigmatic coach earned a reputation as one of the best in the world during his eight-and-a-half-year tenure at Liverpool, where he completely transformed the club and ended their 30-year wait for an English Premier League title. Klopp also delivered the Champions League in 2019.

In light of his return to the dugout, we have ranked his top ten signings at Liverpool, considering price, impact, and legacy.

1. Mohamed Salah – €42m

Not only is Mo Salah unquestionably Klopp's best-ever signing, but he is also among the greatest in Premier League history. The Egyptian reached hero status at Anfield and departed this summer as the club's third-highest goalscorer in history with 257 goals. Salah secured a plethora of records during his nine years at Anfield and remains the club's all-time top scorer in the Premier League. He was so instrumental to Liverpool's success under Klopp that he thoroughly deserves the top spot; the €42m fee was an absolute bargain.

2. Virgil van Dijk – €84.7m

Liverpool paid a world-record fee to acquire Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018, and it proved to be inspired business. Klopp's side frequently fell just short before his arrival, and it was widely accepted that they required a defensive leader—Van Dijk provided exactly that. The Netherlands international developed into the best centre-back in the world and was the cornerstone of Liverpool's success. He also finished as the runner-up for the Ballon d'Or in 2019.

3. Alisson Becker – €72.5m

Following the addition of Van Dijk in January, Alisson provided the final piece of the puzzle the following summer. Liverpool badly needed to solve their goalkeeping problems, and they signed one of the best in the world in the Brazilian. Alisson was an exceptional shot-stopper who provided a real sense of calm to the defense. He made unforgettable saves in big moments and was pivotal to several title successes.

4. Andy Robertson – €9m

If this list were based purely on value for money, Andy Robertson would rival Salah for the top spot. The Scotland captain's €9m move to Anfield in 2017 is one of the biggest bargains in Premier League history. Robertson became the best left-back in the world for several seasons and was a remarkably reliable performer. Only Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Firmino played more minutes under Klopp at Liverpool than Robertson (25,202).

5. Sadio Mané – €41.2m

Sadio Mané was Klopp's first major signing at Liverpool, arriving from Southampton for €41.2m in 2016. The Senegal star was part of the Reds' iconic attack alongside Firmino and Salah, which propelled them to major honors. Mané was exceptional out of possession and provided an incredible 166 goal contributions in 269 games under Klopp.

6. Fabinho – €45m

Such an underrated part of Liverpool's success, Fabinho provided real defensive nous in central midfield. The Brazilian offered essential protection for the backline, which allowed the full-backs to bomb forward, and he was masterclass at winning back possession.

7. Georginio Wijnaldum – €27.5m

Georginio Wijnaldum was a relatively low-profile signing, but it was such shrewd business. Liverpool didn't really have a true superstar in their midfield under Klopp, but they had intelligent, hard-working players like Wijnaldum. He scored a brace in the famous comeback win over Barcelona in 2019, which was arguably the greatest game of Klopp's tenure.

8. Joël Matip – Free

Like Robertson, Joël Matip would be much higher on this list based purely on fees, as he was the definition of a bargain on a free transfer. The towering defender was a brilliant partner for Van Dijk for several seasons; it is a shame that injuries blighted his time at Anfield, as he was immense when fit.

9. Diogo Jota – €44.7m

Diogo Jota was never truly a guaranteed starter under Klopp, but he regularly showed up in the biggest games to deliver. His return of 78 goal contributions in 145 games was very impressive, making him one of the most popular figures at Anfield.

10. Luis Díaz – €49m

Luis Díaz delivered on his price tag, winning domestic honors under Klopp, and was pivotal to Liverpool's title success under Arne Slot in the season after the German's departure. Many Liverpool fans regretted his sale, but making a €20m profit on the player was undeniably good business.