From Caicedo's £115m snub to Guehi's late collapse: Liverpool's costliest failed transfers

Liverpool’s transfer history is littered with deals that fell apart at the final hurdle, from Moises Caicedo’s £115m move to Chelsea after Jurgen Klopp prematurely declared the signing done, to Marc Guehi completing a medical at Anfield only for the deal to collapse entirely.

The failures are a recurring theme for a club now under new manager Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot following Liverpool’s fifth-place Premier League finish last season. With Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all having departed on expired contracts, the pressure to recruit wisely this summer is acute. Victor Munoz has arrived from Osasuna for £34.5m and Jeremy Jacquet completed a £60m switch agreed in January, but further reinforcements — particularly a Salah replacement — remain a priority.

Moises Caicedo (2023)

The most embarrassing episode came in August 2023. Desperate for a midfield leader following the exits of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, Liverpool submitted a British record £111m bid for Brighton’s Caicedo, which was accepted. Klopp went as far as announcing the deal was done in a press conference. The problem: Caicedo had already privately committed to Chelsea months earlier. He refused to travel to Liverpool for a medical and subsequently signed for the west London club for £115m. Liverpool pivoted to Wataru Endo.

Marc Guehi (2025)

Liverpool’s most recent transfer nightmare centred on the then-Crystal Palace captain. With one year left on his contract and Guehi openly seeking a move, the Reds identified him as a long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk. Palace agreed a reduced £35m fee and Guehi completed his Liverpool medical. But then-Palace manager Oliver Glasner was furious at losing his captain, and when a planned replacement signing — Brighton’s Igor Julio — fell through, Palace pulled the plug. Guehi eventually joined Manchester City in January.

Nabil Fekir (2018)

Five years before the Caicedo saga, Lyon captain Nabil Fekir appeared destined for Anfield. One of Ligue 1’s standout talents and a France World Cup squad member, Fekir travelled to Liverpool and completed his medical before the deal collapsed at the final stage. The precise reasons were never fully confirmed publicly, though reports pointed to concerns raised during the medical process. Fekir went on to join Real Betis and later became a key figure at Barcelona.

As Liverpool look to rebuild under Iraola, the club will be hoping their recent history of last-minute heartbreak does not repeat itself in what promises to be a pivotal summer.