Liverpool confirm £34.6m Muñoz capture from Osasuna | OneFootball

Marcus Xavier Bennett López, Football reporter

Spanish international and Osasuna winger Victor Muñoz has been announced as a Liverpool player following the activation of his £34.6m release clause.

Muñoz, 22, is currently in the United States with Spain’s World Cup squad but was allowed to take a medical and signed a six-year deal until 2032 with the Reds on Thursday afternoon.

Four substitute appearances for Real Madrid in the 24/25 season was followed by a £4.3m transfer to Osasuna. Madrid kept a 50% sell-on clause meaning Liverpool will be sending half of this transfer fee to Los Blancos.

His first season as a starter in La Liga caught the eyes of big clubs – 6 goals and 2 assists in 34 appearances respectively. Barcelona and Real Madrid explored him as an option with Newcastle coming closest before Liverpool swooped in.

His international career began only in March when he made his debut against Serbia and scored coming off the bench as a centre forward. His pace and directness earned a spot to the World Cup despite ending the season injured.

Muñoz missed four out of the last five gameweeks after picking up a muscle injury in May, and was on the bench for Spain’s opener against Cape Verde in the World Cup serving as back up to Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal.

The Real Madrid youth player is Catalonia-born and was part of Barcelona’s academy system, La Masia, until 2017 when he joined local side CF Damm – a youth team renowned for its youth development.

He then moved to the capital in 2021 and rose through the ranks quickly before his transfer to Pamplona last summer.

Though Osasuna endured a disastrous second half of the season – losing their final five matches and surviving relegation by head to head results – Muñoz was shining light in a dim campaign.

Muñoz scored six goals and assisted two others over the 34 appearances in La Liga this season, and ranked within the top five percent for successful dribbles and touches in the opposition penalty area in the Spanish top flight.

He is a versatile attacker who can play across the front three but it is his electric speed, power and dribbling that Liverpool see as his top qualities.

Following the departure of a legendary figure like Mohamed Salah, he will not be expected to fill his boots but to help fellow Spaniard Andoni Iraola bring direct, dynamic and intense football back to Liverpool.

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