Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Dutch attacking right-back Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.
The Athletic reported last Saturday that Frimpong was set to undergo his medical at Liverpool after agreeing a five-year deal to join the Premier League champions, who activated his €35million (£29.6m; $39.3m) release clause. The fee will be paid in three separate instalments over three years.
The 24-year-old full-back helped Leverkusen claim their maiden Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 campaign, registering 14 goals and 12 assists in 47 appearances as Xabi Alonso's side maintained an unbeaten domestic record. Frimpong provided a further five goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances this term, as they finished second in the Bundesliga and reached the Champions League round-of-16.
In October 2023, Frimpong extended his contract at Leverkusen to 2028. He initially signed for the Bundesliga club on a four-year deal from Celtic in 2021.
Frimpong's arrival at Liverpool comes after Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid was officially confirmed earlier on Friday, though the club do not see Frimpong as a direct replacement for the 26-year-old. Fellow right-back Conor Bradley signed a new four-year contract at Anfield through to 2029 earlier this month.
Frimpong was left on the bench for Leverkusen's final match of the Bundesliga season -- a 2-2 draw against Mainz -- as head coach Xabi Alonso bid farewell to the club after announcing he too would depart in the summer. Alonso has also since joined Madrid.
Capable of operating as a wing-back, a full-back or as a winger, Frimpong is expected to add to head coach Arne Slot's options across the pitch. Star forward Mohamed Salah is expected to take part in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, which begins on December 21.
Frimpong becomes Liverpool's first summer signing of 2025 after the Merseyside club clinched the Premier League title with four matches to spare in Slot's first season in charge. Valencia and Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili will also join the club this summer after a £29million ($38.5m) transfer was agreed last year.
Part of Frimpong's appeal to Liverpool is that he counts as 'homegrown' for Premier League and UEFA squad registration rules, due the time he spent in Manchester City's academy as a youth. His versatility, having played in several positions on the right flank as well as attacking midfield, is also a plus point and he is not viewed solely as a direct replacement for Alexander-Arnold.
Analysis from Mark Carey
The Netherlands international is about as attacking as it gets among right-backs in the game today. He has become a wing-back who is more 'wing' than 'back'. His 14 goals and 10 assists for Leverkusen in 2023-24 highlighted the impact he can make, and he followed this up with five goals and 12 assists during the 2024-25 campaign.
Leverkusen have occasionally moved to a back four this season, with the 24-year-old operating as a winger instead. Liverpool supporters witnessed that first-hand during the 4-0 Champions League victory over the Bundesliga side in November.
Frimpong's skill set means he is not required to be as involved in his side's build-up. This is neatly outlined when looking at the off-ball runs he makes when his team have possession. As shown by SkillCorner's profile, his running is geared more towards verticality and stretching the opposition with a high volume of runs ahead of the ball or into the box.
At Liverpool, Frimpong would either have to adapt to playing a more balanced role or Slot would likely need to make some tactical tweaks to provide adequate protection in the right channel.
Liverpool's right-sided centre-back Ibrahima Konate has already shown an ability to cover large spaces but it would ask different questions of Slot's midfield and potentially require some adjustment of their roles -- especially the right-sided attacking midfielder, an area that could get crowded after Mohamed Salah signed a new two-year contract.
Former Manchester City academy kid Frimpong did play as a more conventional right-back earlier in his career with Scotland's Celtic and before Alonso arrived at Leverkusen and has also done it for the Netherlands' national team, so Salah would probably find a way to make it work.