Ben Doak Joins Bournemouth in £25m Deal as Club Continues Summer Overhaul

Bournemouth have secured the signing of Liverpool winger Ben Doak for an initial £20 million, with an additional £5 million in performance-related add-ons. The 19-year-old Scottish international has signed a five-year contract with the Cherries, becoming their fourth arrival in a busy summer window.

Doak, who spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship, scored three goals and provided seven assists in 24 appearances. The winger, capped six times by Scotland, was absent from Liverpool’s 4-2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night, with the move already underway.

“I’m buzzing to be here,” said Doak. “I feel like it’s the right time for me and it’s a great opportunity to play regular football at the highest level. It feels like the perfect fit. The team play very nice football. It’s fast and it really suits my game, so I felt like I couldn’t say no to the chance to play here.”

Doak’s desire for more consistent first-team football was a key factor in his decision. He made just 10 appearances for Liverpool since his 2022 arrival from Celtic, and Bournemouth’s playing style under manager Andoni Iraola appears to have played a central role in convincing the winger to make the switch. The south coast club also beat competition from Premier League rivals Leeds and Portuguese side Porto to land the youngster.

His arrival comes amid significant squad reshaping at Bournemouth. Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, left-back Adrien Truffert and centre-back Bafode Diakite have all joined the club, while Eli Junior Kroupi returns after a loan at Lorient. Doak’s addition adds pace and creativity to the flanks, as Iraola looks to reshape a squad that has already seen major outgoings.

Bournemouth recently sold Dango Ouattara to Brentford for £42.5 million, while defenders Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez left for a combined £150 million to PSG, Real Madrid and Liverpool respectively.

Manager Andoni Iraola had previously acknowledged that the team is “not where they want to be” and hinted at more “important movements” before the transfer window shuts on September 1. The club is expected to target a new centre-back and a striker to support Evanilson, with Enes Unal sidelined until at least November due to a knee injury.

For Liverpool, the sale of Doak adds to a growing list of profitable exits, with around £85 million generated this summer from the sales of homegrown players. The club has now raised approximately £200 million through transfers while reinvesting heavily in the squad.