Liverpool Signs Victor Munoz for €40m Amid Injury Concerns

Liverpool’s first signing of the 2026/27 season has arrived with a flourish, a €40m release clause, and a problem.

Victor Munoz, the highly rated Spain winger, has completed his move from Osasuna on a six-year deal, only to suffer a fresh muscle setback on World Cup duty that has immediately tested Liverpool’s growing reputation for bad luck with new recruits.

Liverpool beat Newcastle – and Madrid step aside

At 22, Munoz already carries the markings of a modern elite winger: Real Madrid schooling, Barcelona academy roots, and a breakout season in La Liga with Osasuna after joining them in 2025.

Liverpool’s new sporting director Richard Hughes pounced, triggering the €40m clause written into his Osasuna contract. The fee will be paid in two instalments, with Real Madrid entitled to half of the proceeds thanks to their sell-on terms. Madrid also held a buyback option but chose not to exercise it, clearing the path for Munoz to head to Anfield.

Newcastle believed they were close. Again, they have been left watching Liverpool move faster when it matters. At the insistence of head coach Andoni Iraola, the Merseyside club accelerated talks and closed the deal, underlining both Liverpool’s pulling power and Iraola’s determination to reshape his attack with pace and directness from wide areas.

Medical joy turns to World Cup concern

Munoz underwent his Liverpool medical on Wednesday at Spain’s FIFA World Cup training facilities, passing the checks that allowed the transfer to be finalised. He had reported for international duty with a hamstring complaint, but the expectation inside the Spain camp was that he would recover in time for their second group match.

Spain opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Cape Verde and face Saudi Arabia on Sunday, a fixture that had been pencilled in as Munoz’s likely return. Instead, the mood has shifted.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) has confirmed that the winger has suffered a setback in his recovery. During what was described as a scheduled and individualised rehabilitation process, an additional muscle injury occurred, delaying his return to competition. His availability for Spain’s upcoming matches now depends on how his symptoms evolve.

He has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against Saudi Arabia on June 21, and his involvement deeper into the tournament is in real doubt.

For Liverpool, there is no suggestion of a long-term fitness crisis around their new signing, but the timing is grim. Hughes and Iraola wanted a clean slate after a bruising season with injuries. Instead, the first major arrival of the summer is already in the treatment room.

A familiar and unwelcome pattern

At Anfield, the phrase “new signing” has too often been followed by “injury update.”

Last season, Liverpool’s incoming class took a heavy hit. Giovanni Leoni, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike all endured long-term absences during their first year at the club. Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili also battled fitness issues, never quite finding the rhythm that had been expected when they signed.

The hope for 2026/27 was simple: fresh faces, full pre-seasons, and a squad that could hit the ground running in defence of their Premier League crown. Instead, talk of a “curse” has resurfaced barely 24 hours after Munoz’s €40m move became official.

Munoz’s talent is not in question. He is quick, direct, and fearless in one-on-one situations, the sort of winger Liverpool supporters will expect to see tearing down the flanks at Anfield for years to come. The club believes this is a short-term bump, not a long-term worry.

But after a year scarred by medical bulletins and rehab schedules, Liverpool did not need another early reminder of how fragile plans can be. Iraola wants intensity, width, and relentless running from his wide players. The first test of that vision may be how quickly his new Spanish winger can swap the treatment table for the touchline.