Hungarian national captain Dominik Szoboszlai joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in June 2023, strengthening the Reds' options in midfield. Szoboszlai was born in the central Hungarian city of Székesfehérvár on 25 October 2000, His 23 year old father Zsolt was a professional footballer who had made eleven appearances for Tatabanya in the Hungarian top flight the previous season. After spending time in the youth set ups at Videoton and MTK Budapest, he moved to Austria in the summer of 2017 joining FC Liefering, the reserve side of RB Salzburg. He made his debut in Austria's second tier early in the 2017/18 season, three months before his 17th birthday and impressed enough to be handed his RB Salzburg debut as a substitute in the last game of the season.
The first half of 2018/19 was spent with Liefering but in the second half of the season he became a fixture with RB Salzburg, making sixteen appearances and scoring three goals. Szoboslzai got his first experience of Anfield on 2 October 2019 when he played for RB Salzburg against Liverpool in a Champions League group stage game, which the Reds won 4-3. Playing alongside Erling Haaland, he scored nine goals from 27 league appearances that season.
In December 2020 Szoboszlai became the most expensive Hungarian footballer in history when he transferred to RB Leipzig for 20 million Euros. However, he was unable to make any appearances in the German Bundesliga that season due to an abductor injury which also kept him out of the delayed Euro 2020. He finally made his debut for Leipzig on 7 August 2021 in a DFB Pokal game against Sandhausen, scoring in a 4-0 win. Leipzig went on to win the cup that season, with Szoboszlai coming on as a second-half substitute in the final. Leipzig won the cup again in 2022/23, with Szoboszlai scoring the second goal in a 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the final.
Szoboszlai's arrival at Liverpool in July 2023 marked a significant step in the club's midfield evolution. Signed from RB Leipzig for a reported £60.1 million, he became the third Hungarian to don the red shirt. Despite his young age, Szoboszlai has been Hungary's captain since November 2022 when he was elected to the position by teammates. His international coach said: "He is a real leader, a strong character, which is rare in his age. You can be sure that he can handle this responsibility and that it will not hinder his development. He is not yet a top player, but he will soon become one." Szoboszlai made a strong start to his Liverpool career, playing every minute of the first ten league games, impressing with his box to box runs and strong shooting ability. He was named Man of the match on his first Anfield appearance on 19 August in a 3–1 victory over Bournemouth. His first goal for Liverpool arrived on 3 September 2023 in a 3–0 win over Aston Villa, making him the first Hungarian to score for the club. During the 2023/24 season, Szoboszlai made 33 Premier League appearances, contributing 3 goals and 2 assists. His standout performance came on 29 October 2023 against Nottingham Forest, where he scored once and assisted twice in a 3–0 victory. Despite his contributions, he faced criticism from manager Arne Slot for not scoring more goals and creating additional chances.
The 2024/25 season saw Szoboszlai's influence grow. He scored his first Champions League goal for Liverpool on 17 September 2024 against AC Milan. His playing style drew frequent comparisons to Steven Gerrard. Both players share a penchant for powerful long-range shots and the ability to dictate the tempo of a match from midfield. His work ethic on the pitch echo those of the former Liverpool Captain, who was known for his relentless drive. Gerrard has acknowledged the similarities between the two, stating that Szoboszlai is the current Liverpool player who most reminds him of himself. A hallmark of Szoboszlai’s game is his ability to make relentless, lung-busting runs from midfield, driving the team forward with energy and purpose. Whether carrying the ball from deep or surging into the final third, he combines pace, endurance, and ball control to break defensive lines and create scoring opportunities. Szoboszlai created five goals for Mo Salah alone in the 2024/25 campaign.
Szoboszlai was Liverpool’s standout performer during an otherwise inconsistent 2025/26 campaign, delivering a level of consistency and influence that set him apart from the rest of the squad. The Hungarian midfielder remained a constant source of energy, creativity and decisive moments, ultimately being voted Standard Chartered Men’s Player of the Season. Operating mainly as an advanced midfielder but frequently deployed as right-back when needed, Szoboszlai became one of Arne Slot’s most trusted players. His availability and durability were key assets in a season impacted by injuries and fluctuating form elsewhere in the squad. He combined relentless running with an increasing influence in the final third, often acting as both a creator and a goal threat in the same match.
The defining feature of his season was his extraordinary set-piece record. Szoboszlai scored four direct free-kick goals in the Premier League, the most ever by a Liverpool player in a single league campaign. His technique, built on whip, pace and accuracy, made him a consistent threat from distance, with opposition sides increasingly reluctant to concede fouls around the edge of the penalty area. One of his earliest strikes against Arsenal set the tone for the campaign and was widely regarded as one of the goals of the season. He followed this with a series of similarly high-level efforts, including a powerful strike against Manchester City. By the end of the season, his total left him just one short of the Premier League’s all-time record of five free-kick goals in a single campaign, jointly held by David Beckham and Laurent Robert. Beyond his set-piece excellence, Szoboszlai contributed regularly in open play, finishing the season with strong double figures for goals and assists across all competitions.
By the end of the season, Szoboszlai had firmly established himself as Liverpool’s most influential player. In a year where the team as a whole fell short of expectations, he stood out for his consistency, durability and match-winning ability, with his record-breaking free-kick return marking him as one of the game's most dangerous and technically gifted midfielders.
