Key Takeaways:
- Bournemouth completed the signing of Ben Doak from Liverpool in a deal worth an initial £20m plus £5m in add-ons.
- The 19-year-old winger signed a five-year contract following an impressive loan spell at Middlesbrough during the 2024-25 Championship season.
- Liverpool increased their summer sales to approximately £200m after several high-profile departures, boosting their profit and sustainability calculations.
Bournemouth Secure Promising Talent in Doak
AFC Bournemouth have confirmed the acquisition of Liverpool’s Scottish winger Ben Doak for an upfront fee of £20m, potentially rising to £25m with performance-related add-ons. The Scotland international, aged 19, commits to the Cherries on a five-year deal and becomes their fourth signing of the summer transfer window.
Doak, who impressed during his recent loan spell at Middlesbrough, was absent from Liverpool’s 4-2 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night. The winger expressed his excitement, stating: “I’m buzzing to be here,” and emphasised that the team’s fast, attractive style of play was a key factor in his decision.
Doak’s Impact at Middlesbrough and International Recognition
Last season, Doak demonstrated his potential at Middlesbrough in the Championship, scoring three goals and registering seven assists across 24 appearances. Among players featuring in at least 20 Championship matches, he ranked in the top six per 90 minutes for assists, chances created and touches in the opposition penalty area. His progress was curtailed by a thigh injury that ended his 2024-25 campaign in late January, but he had already established himself as a regular threat to opposing full-backs.
🚨🍒 Ben Doak has completed his medical at Bournemouth after deal done on Friday for £25m fee to Liverpool.
Doak will sign his long term deal later today.#LFC will have buy back clause to keep future control on the player. pic.twitter.com/wgBWMnD8AD
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 18, 2025
In addition to his club performances, Doak earned his senior Scotland debut in September and has now accrued six caps for the national team.
Liverpool’s Transfer Dealings and Financial Impact
Bournemouth reportedly fended off interest from fellow Premier League clubs—including Leeds—and from Porto to land Doak. The move also provides him a greater chance for regular first-team opportunities, having made only 10 appearances for Liverpool since his transfer from Celtic in 2022.
With this transfer, Liverpool have raised their summer outgoing total to around £200m, following significant acquisition spending exceeding £270m and a rejected £110m offer for Alexander Isak. Major outgoings include Luis Diaz’s £65.5m transfer to Bayern Munich, Darwin Nunez’s £46.3m switch to Al-Hilal, and Jarrell Quansah’s £35m move to Bayer Leverkusen. Deals for Caoimhin Kelleher, Tyler Morton, and Nat Phillips further supplemented funds, while the club also received £8.4m from Real Madrid related to the early release of Trent Alexander-Arnold—though the Spanish club contests this figure.
Liverpool have accrued approximately £85m in initial transfer fees for Doak, Phillips, Alexander-Arnold, Kelleher, Quansah and Morton, all signed originally as youth or development projects for a combined £600,000. This provides an immediate gain in ‘pure profit’ under profit and sustainability regulations, particularly for ‘homegrown’ players.
Bournemouth’s Summer Overhaul and Transfer Plans
The Cherries have been active in the market, selling Dango Ouattara to Brentford for £42.5m the previous week, and losing defenders Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, and Milos Kerkez for approximately £150m to Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid and Liverpool, respectively.
Manager Andoni Iraola, noting his side are “not where they want to be,” affirmed further squad adjustments would occur before the transfer window’s closure on 1 September. New recruits also include goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, left-back Adrien Truffert, and centre-back Bafode Diakite, as well as January arrival Eli Junior Kroupi, returning from a loan at Lorient. Bournemouth remain in search of a central defender and a striker to compete with Evanilson, particularly as Enes Unal is expected to remain sidelined with a knee injury until November or December.
Statistical Overview of Major Transfers
| Player | From | To | Fee (£m) | Season Signed by Liverpool | Fee Paid by Liverpool (£m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Doak | Liverpool | Bournemouth | 20 (+5 add-ons) | 2022 | Undisclosed youth fee |
| Jarrell Quansah | Liverpool | Bayer Leverkusen | 35 | Academy | Undisclosed |
| Tyler Morton | Liverpool | Undisclosed | Part of £85m total | Academy | Undisclosed |
| Caoimhin Kelleher | Liverpool | Undisclosed | Part of £85m total | Academy | Undisclosed |
| Nat Phillips | Liverpool | Undisclosed | Part of £85m total | Development | Undisclosed |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool | Real Madrid | 8.4* | Academy | Undisclosed |
| Luis Diaz | Liverpool | Bayern Munich | 65.5 | 2022 | Undisclosed |
| Darwin Nunez | Liverpool | Al-Hilal | 46.3 | 2022 | Undisclosed |
*Real Madrid dispute this figure
Doak’s Championship Statistics (2024-25 Season at Middlesbrough)
| Appearances | Goals | Assists | Starts | Minutes Played | Assists per 90 | Chances Created (per 90) | Touches in Opposition Box (per 90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 3 | 7 | 21 | Not stated | Top 6 in Championship* | Top 6 in Championship* | Top 6 in Championship* |
*Among players with at least 20 matches played
Player Analysis
Noel Sliney of BBC Sport observed that, before a thigh injury in late January interrupted his season, Doak consistently troubled opposing full-backs in the Championship with his speed and direct play. His contribution of three goals and seven assists in 21 starts highlighted his effectiveness, while advanced statistics positioned him among the top-performing wide players in several key attacking categories.
