Liverpool striker Alexander Isak vowed to make history with the Premier League champions after finally completing his British-record £125 million move from Newcastle on Monday.
Isak agreed a reported six-year contract with the Reds after they convinced Newcastle to accept an improved bid ahead of the Premier League’s transfer deadline.
The 25-year-old’s arrival at Anfield will increase the expectation that Liverpool are set for a dominant period and Isak is happy to shoulder the burden.
“I think it’s a mixture of what the club is building, but what they’re building on top of what the club already is. The history of the club. Me getting the chance to be a part of this, I want to create history,” Isak said.
“I want to win trophies. That’s ultimately the biggest motivation for me. I feel like this is the perfect place for me to grow even further and to take my game to the next level and help the team as well.”
Arne Slot’s side had a £110 million offer rejected by Newcastle in August, but Isak’s determination to force through the move paid off after the transfer saga grew increasingly tetchy.
Isak told Newcastle he wanted to leave and spent part of pre-season training alone at his former club Real Sociedad rather than linking up with Eddie Howe’s team.
He was left out of Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia with what was said to be a thigh injury and accused the Magpies hierarchy of breaking a commitment that he could leave if a suitable offer came in from a top club.
Howe had repeatedly stated his desire to keep Isak, who scored 27 times in 42 appearances in all competitions last season.
Isak’s goals helped secure Champions League qualification and ended Newcastle’s 56-year trophy drought with a League Cup final win over Liverpool.
But Newcastle’s swoop for Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade on Saturday paved the way for the Swedish forward to secure his dream move.
“It has been a long summer but I’m just looking forward, not looking at the past,” Isak said.
“It’s done now and I know I can get back to doing what I love the most. Really looking forward to it. I want to win everything.”
