Curtis Jones Joins Inter Milan in £30m Transfer from Liverpool

Inter Milan have completed the signing of Curtis Jones from Liverpool in a £30m (€35m) move, closing the book on a 16-year Anfield story and opening a fresh chapter in Serie A.

Liverpool will receive a fixed £25.7m fee, with a further £4.28m tied to add-ons, while a 10 per cent sell-on clause has been written into the agreement. For a homegrown midfielder who joined the club at nine and leaves at 23, it is a deal that blends sentiment with hard-nosed business.

Anfield goodbye, San Siro stage

Jones departs having made 228 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 22 goals after breaking into the first team in the 2018/19 season. His medal haul is substantial: two Premier League titles, two Carabao Cups, the Club World Cup and the FA Cup, plus a Champions League runners-up medal from 2022.

His exit also continues a growing English core at Inter. Jones becomes the third England international to join the Nerazzurri this window, following John Stones and Djed Spence into Cristian Chivu’s squad.

Jones had entered the final year of his Liverpool contract. With negotiations unresolved and significant interest from Italy, the move brings a natural end to his long association with the club.

Iraola loses a loyal lieutenant

Head coach Andoni Iraola made no secret of his desire to keep Jones, but the decision has been made and the reshaping of Liverpool’s midfield now accelerates.

Jones featured 49 times under former boss Arne Slot last season, 34 of those in a bruising Premier League title defence. He rotated with Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, and even filled in as a makeshift right-back when required. That versatility is now Inter’s to exploit.

Iraola, though, has a different blueprint. He plans to use Florian Wirtz in his favoured No 10 role in a 4-2-3-1, leaving Szoboszlai, Mac Allister and Gravenberch to scrap for two deeper midfield berths. Wataru Endo remains an option, while 19-year-old Trey Nyoni has surged into contention after catching the eye in pre-season.

The Basque coach has already talked up Nyoni’s chances of stepping into the void. The teenager will not be short of opportunity. And with £30m banked, Liverpool could yet re-enter the market for another midfielder.

Wide focus and transfer tension

Jones’ sale does not change Liverpool’s primary transfer objective. The club’s long-standing focus this window has been on strengthening in wide areas.

Two bids for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh have been rejected, the latest worth £60m. Liverpool are also pursuing Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola, though the European champions value the winger at a staggering £145m.

Cody Gakpo, meanwhile, is attracting firm interest from Spurs. For now, Liverpool do not want to sell, and Jones’ departure only sharpens that stance.

“I came here as a kid… I’m leaving as a man”

Jones marked his departure with an emotional farewell message, underlining just how deeply Liverpool has shaped his life and career.

“After 16 years, it's time to say goodbye.

“I came here as a kid with a dream of playing for Liverpool, and I've been lucky enough to actually live that dream.

“This club is all I've ever known. I came here as a kid and I'm leaving as a man with a family of my own, which probably puts into perspective just how much of my life I've spent here.

“So much has happened during my time here, both on and off the pitch. I've made my debut, won trophies, made memories I'll never forget, and I've become a dad.

“Having my daughter while I've been here makes it even more special because Liverpool isn't just part of my story any more, it's part of my family's story too.

“I want to thank everyone in the academy who believed in me and helped me get to where I am today. There are people here who have known me since I was a kid and literally watched me grow up.

“Thank you to every manager and coach I've worked with for trusting me, giving me opportunities and always pushing me to become better.

“And a massive thank you to everyone behind the scenes - the physios, medical team, kit staff, chefs, analysts, security, media team, grounds staff and everyone else who makes this place what it is.

“To all the lads I've shared a dressing room with over the years, thank you. I've played with some unbelievable players and made friendships that I know I'll have for life.

“Thank you to the fans that stuck by me and always supported me. I will always be one of you.

“Now it's time for a new challenge and a new chapter for me and my family, and I'm excited for what's ahead.

“But Liverpool will always be a massive part of me. I came here as a kid with a dream and I'm leaving having lived it. So genuinely, to everyone who has played any part in my 16 years here, thank you. I'll never forget it.

“YNWA.”

A boy from the academy leaves with medals, memories and a prime move to one of Europe’s giants. Liverpool, meanwhile, must prove that the next phase of their midfield rebuild can live without one of their own.