Jurgen Klopp‘s first signing for Liverpool was a midfielder who failed to light up Anfield, and scored just one competitive goal for the Reds.
There is no doubt that the German manager brought some highly influential players to Liverpool during his nine years in charge.
After the news on Friday that Klopp will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, fans are looking back on his time at the club – but might have forgotten the first player he signed for the club.
Serbian midfielder Marko Grujic was signed by Liverpool in the January transfer window in 2016, three months after Klopp took over the club’s reins in October.
While many clubs across Europe were following Grujic, a personal phone call from Klopp encouraged him to join Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp shocked football by revealing he will step down as Liverpool boss in the summer
His first signing, Serbian midfielder Marko Grujic, failed to light up Anfield on his arrival
He cost £5.1m from Red Star Belgrade, and was loaned back to the club for the remainder of that season.
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However, once he joined up with the Reds full-time that summer, he struggled for competitive game time, hampered in his first season for the club with a hamstring issue.
Grujic made only 16 senior appearances for Liverpool, scoring and assisting once each.
His only competitive goal for Liverpool came in their 7-2 League Cup win over Lincoln City in September 2020.
His spell with Liverpool saw him spend the vast majority of his time on loan, with temporary stints at Cardiff City, Hertha Berlin and Porto.
After being on loan at the Portuguese club for the 2020-21 campaign, Porto made the move permanent in a £10.5m deal in July 2021, meaning the Reds more than doubled their money despite Grujic’s struggles to fit into Klopp’s team.
A 10% sell-on clause was inserted into the deal, so Liverpool could make even more if Grujic, who is now 27, makes another…