Who is Luis Diaz? How much did he cost for Liverpool in winter transfer?

George Priestman

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Who is Luis Diaz? How much did he cost for Liverpool in winter transfer? image

Luis Diaz has only been at Liverpool Football Club for a couple of months, but he's already made his mark.

Since moving to Liverpool at the close of the 2022 winter transfer window, the Colombian has settled in seamlessly, already inserted in 25 matches across all competitions. In that span, he has five assists and six goals scored, including four in the Premier League. 

But his crowning moment so far has been his man-of-the-match performance at Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg. With his team down 2-0 at halftime, Diaz came off the bench and helped change the game as Liverpool flipped the scoreline to win 3-2.

Diaz will be involved in three finals with Liverpool and he has already won two of the three trophies with his new club. He started and played 97 minutes in a memorable Carabao Cup final against Chelsea which the Reds won on penalty kicks on Feb. 27. He went 98 minutes in the FA Cup final on May 14, another Liverpool penalty-kick triumph that also came against Chelsea.

Here's everything you needed to know about the 25-year-old Diaz, his playing style, position and why Liverpool signed the winger to begin with. 

Who is Luis Diaz?

Luis Diaz is predominantly a left winger who joined Liverpool from Porto in the January 2022 transfer window. He's featured 35 times for Colombia, netting eight times, and he was also part of the Under-20 international setup for the South American nation.

MORE: How many trophies has Jurgen Klopp won?

His professional journey started domestically in Barranquilla, Colombia in 2016, before moving up a division to the Primera A to play for Atletico Junior, where he notched 15 goals in 67 games.

From there, he earned a move to Portuguese giants Porto as a 22-year-old. That's where he made his name on the big stage scoring in the UEFA Champions League, and winning the league and cup double in Portugal. Altogether, he netted 41 goals in his two-and-a-half seasons at the club.

How much did Diaz cost Liverpool?

Diaz cost a reported $50 million with $17 million further in add-ons in a contract that will see him stay with Liverpool for the next five years.

It was somewhat of a shock signing given the timing, as Liverpool had been linked with a summer 2022 move for the forward. But Tottenham were ready to go all out to secure the player's signature before then. So Liverpool was forced to move fast, and it executed the deal in January, rather than risk losing him to a domestic rival. 

Diaz was also linked with West Ham in January 2022, and the winger was reportedly scouted by a whole host of European clubs prior to his move to Liverpool. It's a move that has, so far, proved to be a positive one, with the winger scoring his first goal in only his third appearance for the club against Norwich.

Where does Diaz play and what makes him good?

As mentioned, Diaz is a left winger, and has played there for the entirety of his career. His pace, dribbling ability, aggression, and intensity are all key attributes for the former Porto player, who has fit in seamlessly with Liverpool's style of play which is heavily reliant on players with that exact makeup, especially in the attacking areas.

However, he also brings a lot of quality to the table. For example, his solo effort for former club Porto in the Champions League away leg at Manchester City was a goal that brought him to mainstream fans. He was also nominated for the Puskas Award for 2021 Goal of the Year for his stunning strike in the 2021 Copa America. 

Klopp wanted Diaz because he fit the style of his system; for example, he registered in the 98th percentile for tackles in the final third — this fit in with Klopp's high-intensity pressing system. He also stood out for his ball recoveries, dribbles attempted, and ball retention.

In addition, Diaz is a high-volume shooter, loving to cut in from the left and take aim on net. In his first 13 Premier League matches with the Reds, he has ripped off 38 shots, with a solid mark of 4.5 expected goals (0.12 xG per shot), which compares to Mohamed Salah's 0.13 non-penalty expected goals (xG) per shot. Salah finished as the joint top scorer in the Premier League.

For Liverpool fans, he could be the long-term replacement for soon-to-be 30-year-old Sadio Mane on the left-wing, as it seems the Reds have identified and secured another top player.

George Priestman