Liverpool face a defining 12 months in their bid to secure Dominik Szoboszlai’s long-term future at Anfield. Anfield hierarchy remain locked in negotiations with the midfielder’s camp over a lucrative new contract, with the Hungary international eager to officially commit his peak years to the club.
The Reds initially opened formal talks with Szoboszlai’s representatives back in November, aiming to tie him down well beyond his current deal, which runs until June 2028. However, despite months of dialogue, club sources confirm there has still been “no breakthrough” in negotiations.
Fortunately for head coach Arne Slot, a strong “determination on both sides” remains to strike a final agreement. Szoboszlai represents the most high-profile name in a cluster of four Liverpool players whose current terms expire in 2028, a group that also includes Alexis Mac Allister, Federico Chiesa, and teenage prodigy Rio Ngumoha.
While Anfield chiefs already plan to hand Ngumoha a long-term professional deal when he celebrates his 18th birthday this August, the landscape looks vastly different for others. High-earner Chiesa will almost certainly depart the club, while Liverpool have not yet initiated any contract talks with Mac Allister’s camp.
Szoboszlai’s current standoff puts tremendous pressure on the Liverpool hierarchy. The club simply cannot afford another high-stakes game of brinkmanship after the disastrous handling of Ibrahima Konaté’s situation.
The Reds opened talks with the Frenchman in October 2024, only to lose him on a free transfer this summer. With Szoboszlai harboring a well-known admiration for Real Madrid, Liverpool cannot risk losing another world-class asset in his prime for absolutely nothing.
On the pitch, the 25-year-old has evolved into the undisputed heartbeat of former head. coach Arne Slot’s. He comfortably led the tracking data and creative metrics during a highly challenging 2025/26 campaign, carrying the creative burden with an astonishing 25 goal involvements across all competitions.
Despite occasionally fractious interactions with a section of the fan base on social media, Szoboszlai retains the absolute backing of the dressing room. Club captain Virgil van Dijk publicly championed the midfielder in February, explicitly tipping him as a future Liverpool captain.
“It starts by leading by example, and that’s something he has done so far this season,” Van Dijk insisted.
The player himself has consistently echoed his desire to remain on Merseyside. During a press point back in February, Szoboszlai made his feelings remarkably clear to reporters.
“I would love to [stay],” Szoboszlai said. “I like the city, I like the club, I like playing with these guys, I love Anfield, I love the fans, let’s see what the future holds.”
More recently, inside the atmospheric Anfield mixed zone following Liverpool’s crucial 2-1 Merseyside derby victory over Everton, Szoboszlai cut a remarkably calm figure. Despite the looming contract deadline and the lack of pen on paper, the Hungarian insisted he feels no pressure.
“There has been no real progression, so I cannot say anything new about my contract situation,” Szoboszlai admitted on Sunday. “We have a lot of games to go and I am focusing on that. As you guys know, my contract ends in 2028, so I am ready to go every day, every week, and then let’s see.
“Of course I see myself here in the long term, but it is not really in my hands any more. I love being here. I love the fans. My family is happy. I’m completely relaxed. We have five games to go. Then I am going to rest—a big one, after my international break. Then we will see.”
With 12 goals and nine assists already registered under Slot this term, Szoboszlai continues to deliver his talking on the pitch. Now, the ball rests firmly in Liverpool’s court to ensure their star midfielder doesn’t enter the final two years of his deal with his future still unresolved.
