With Alexander Isak set to become the costliest signing in British football, we break down the numbers that convinced Liverpool to pay £125 million.

Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy last season, before smashing their transfer record to recruit Florian Wirtz during the summer, alongside Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitiké.

Arne Slot’s men went top after Dominik Szoboszlai’s spectacular free-kick versus Arsenal, leaving them as the only side perfect after three games in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.

Later that Sunday night, reports confirmed Liverpool had reached an agreement with Newcastle United for Isak in a British-record transfer.

For Liverpool fans, it may feel like Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life restaurant gag. When you’re already full, another dish arrives. Isak is no “wafer-thin mint” but rather the hope is he makes their attack explode positively (and yes, don’t watch the scene—it’s unpleasant).

Isak is reportedly signing a six-year deal on deadline day to add further strength to an already formidable squad, another bold statement from the reigning champions.

It has been the defining saga of the summer. What began as exciting dragged on with minimal progress, nearly turning tedious. But now that it’s done, the weight of the move becomes real.

Isak thrived across three seasons at Newcastle, their finest striker since Alan Shearer. He grew immensely at St. James’ Park, though his reputation was already strong when he arrived in 2022.

Having impressed at AIK with 19 goals in 24 Allsvenskan games in 2016, Isak earned a Borussia Dortmund switch at 18. Germany wasn’t a success, but Real Sociedad became home two and a half years later.

Imanol Alguacil trusted him, and in his second campaign he fired Sociedad to their first Copa del Rey in 33 years.

He finished with 44 goals across 132 games in all competitions for Sociedad, only 94 starts, and just two from the penalty spot.

Some doubted if his 2022 Newcastle fee was justified after netting six in 32 La Liga matches, though he’d struck 17 in 34 the year prior, plus shone for Sweden at Euro 2020.

That persuaded Newcastle to break their record and spend over £60m, a risk that paid off brilliantly with 62 goals (49 non-penalty) in 109 appearances (95 starts) overall.

Though tensions flared during the drawn-out transfer, Newcastle have doubled their investment, and Isak also helped end their silverware drought, scoring in the EFL Cup final win over Liverpool.

Now heading to Anfield, we assess the Swedish striker’s data explaining why Liverpool were willing to break all British records.

He struck 52 in all competitions for Newcastle over the past two years, including 44 in the Premier League.

Salah is far ahead in assists (28), compared to Haaland and Isak’s eight apiece. But Newcastle’s set-up made creation harder for him, though he still demonstrated inventiveness.

In 2023-24, only three Newcastle players made more open-play chances than Isak (27) in the Premier League, despite him registering only two assists.

Last December, he not only led the league in goals (8) but also in open-play chances created (19), showing both scoring and creativity.

Creatively, 2024-25 was his best year: 50 open-play chances in all competitions, 19 more than his previous best, with 1.33 chances per 90, a career high.

Liverpool may elevate that further. Surrounded by Salah, Ekitiké, Cody Gakpo and Wirtz, the burden to finish everything won’t fall solely on him.

While versatile, Isak sees himself as a centre-forward. He spent about 24% of his first Premier League season out left but has since operated almost exclusively centrally.

Speaking to Alan Shearer last season, he told the BBC: “I consider myself a centre-forward. I’m okay drifting left, but I’ve not been as effective starting wide.”

He averaged 0.6 final-third possession wins per 90, the same as Salah and Gakpo, just below Núñez and Jota (0.7). Liverpool’s pressing system should push those numbers higher.

These improvements creatively and defensively explain Liverpool’s willingness to invest so heavily in his peak years.

At 25 (turning 26 soon), Isak offers both proven quality and scope to improve further at Anfield.

Liverpool’s rationale: he is about as close to guaranteed output in the final third as you can get without buying Haaland or Mbappé.

He became only the third Newcastle player to net 10+ goals both home and away in one Premier League season, following Cole and Shearer. He hit 50 league goals in just 76 appearances—only six players reached it faster.

Isak also overtook Freddie Ljungberg (48) as Sweden’s all-time top Premier League scorer and joined the rare group to score in eight consecutive league games.

In 2024, he scored 25 league goals, the most for a Newcastle player in a calendar year since Shearer’s 27 in 2002.

Liverpool will value his big-game impact too; he scored against Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Forest, Liverpool, Villa and United last year.

He was one of the division’s deadliest finishers in 2024-25, converting 26.4% of non-penalty shots. That rate topped Haaland (21.6%) and Salah (21.1%).

His movement also excites Liverpool. Great strikers create constant scoring options, and his off-ball runs suit Salah and Wirtz perfectly.

Last season, he made 113 runs to provide a crossing target, among the league’s top ten.

Those runs led to 77 team shots, at least 29 more than any other Premier League player.

Liverpool’s dominance should only increase his opportunities, enhancing both his game and their attack.

With Salah missing time for AFCON and eventually departing, Isak represents succession planning to keep goals flowing.

Salah penned a two-year extension last season, but Liverpool are already preparing for life after him.

Targeting every trophy means 60+ matches, so rotation will be essential. Each forward should feature heavily.

If Isak maintains his Newcastle form, Liverpool will be delighted. If he grows further, the £125m might soon look like a bargain.