Clever RB Leipzig 'trick' forced Liverpool to pay €15m more for Dominik Szoboszlai

Liverpool have signed Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig on a long-term contract - but they had to pay more than they may have originally hoped.

The Hungary international officially completed his move to Anfield on Sunday, after Liverpool triggered his release clause on June 30 - the day it was reportedly due to expire.

The release clause is said to have been set at €70 million (£60 million), making the 22-year-old one of Liverpool's top five most expensive signings of all time.

He is the second player to arrive at Anfield this summer, after Alexis Mac Allister rubber-stamped his move from Brighton at the beginning of the transfer window.

Having been handed the number eight shirt previously worn by Steven Gerrard, big things are expected of the attacking midfielder - but manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted, speaking to the club's official website, that he will be given time to adapt to Premier League football.

He will hope not to have a repeat of a pubic bone injury that ruled him out between January 2021 and the end of that campaign - meaning he missed six months of action.

RB Leipzig 'trick' helped increase Szoboszlai fee

As Szoboszlai signed for RB Leipzig in January of that year, he didn't play a single game for his new club until the beginning of the following season.

However, German outlet Bild (via Sport Witness) report that Leipzig were 'already absolutely convinced' over the young attacking midfielder and, despite his injury, handed him a six-year contract in the summer of 2021.

It is claimed that the release clause contained in his contract had been 'dynamically inclined', so that it expired on June 30 of this year instead of last season.

And in addition, the size of the release clause is reported to have increased from €55 million to €70 million, as a result of Leipzig's foresight in protecting one of their key assets despite the fact he had never played a game for the club.

Ultimately, therefore, both the German club and Liverpool have profited from the deal in different respects - and Szoboszlai will now hope to hit the ground running in English football.