The former Liverpool sporting director returns as CEO of football, almost two years after he left the club. We explore some of Michael Edwards’ best signings in his previous 11 year stint at the club.
Who is Michael Edwards?
There’s no doubt that Liverpool have complete some genuinely inspired cut-price deals over the course of Jurgen Klopp‘s tenure. Using an algorithm-led approach to unearth hidden gems and high-potential prospects, their net spend is considerably lower than that of the Manchester teams, for example.
This is largely down to a carefully curated hierarchy of analysts and scouts, which previously was headed by ex-sporting director Michael Edwards.
Liverpool initially hired Edwards as an analyst in 2011. He previously worked for Portsmouth in the same role under Harry Redknapp before moving to Tottenham in 2009 becoming the chief analyst.
He soon climbed the ranks at Liverpool and he was promoted to sporting director by 2015. Everything appeared to fall into the right place at exactly the right time, with Jurgen Klopp becoming the Liverpool manager that very same year.
As history would show, Edwards and Klopp went on to make curate and nurture one of the most successful Liverpool sides in history.
As he returns to the club to oversee the post-Klopp era in a slightly different capacity, Edwards and Liverpool are seemingly inextricably linked.
Michael Edwards’ Best Signings for Liverpool
Throughout Michael Edwards’ first stint at Liverpool, he oversaw a remarkable influx of players – cheap and expensive – that would ultimately help Klopp mould the team in his vision.
Here are some of the best deals of that period from 2015-2022:
2016 – Joel Matip from Schalke – free transfer
2016 – Georginio Wijnaldum from Newcastle – £27.50m
2016 – Sadio Mane from Southampton – £35m
2017 – Andy Robertson from Hull – £8m
2017 – Mohamed Salah from Roma – £36m
2017 – Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton – £74m
2018 – Fabinho from Monaco – £39m
2018 – Allison from Roma – £53m
2020 – Diogo Jota from Wolves – £38.50m
2021 – Ibrahim Konate from RB Leipzig – £34m
Who is Liverpool Sporting director now?
The first signing under Michael Edwards in his new role as CEO is Richard Hughes.
Hughes has been a technical director at Bournemouth for over a decade and Edwards is hoping that Hughes is ready to take the step up to Liverpool.
Hughes made some commendable signings in his time at Bournemouth; Callum Wilson, Aaron Ramsdale, Dominic Solanke, Tyrone Mings and Nathan Ake to name a few.
Hughes has an eye for unearthing young and affordable talent which could make him the perfect sporting director at Liverpool.
Although he won’t get the chance to work with Klopp, Hughes will be raring to go when the next manager steps through the gates of Anfield.
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