Dominik Szoboszlai's Future with Liverpool: Captaincy Potential
Liverpool have moved decisively to lock down one of the pillars of their new era, with Dominik Szoboszlai signing a fresh contract that keeps him at Anfield until 2031 and cools mounting transfer noise around the Hungary captain.
La Liga whispers, including Real Madrid’s reported interest, have been pushed firmly to the background. At 25, Szoboszlai is now positioned to spend his prime years on Merseyside, at the heart of a side being reshaped for the long term.
From Leipzig arrival to Anfield mainstay
Since arriving from RB Leipzig in 2023, Szoboszlai has become a constant in Liverpool’s plans. Three seasons, 154 appearances, 31 goals. The numbers are strong, but they don’t quite capture the impact.
He has been used everywhere across midfield and the forward line, his versatility turning him into a manager’s dream and an opponent’s headache. Many of those 31 goals have been highlight-reel strikes, the kind that jolt a stadium to its feet and shift the mood of a season.
Already captain of Hungary, Szoboszlai has grown into an on-field leader for Liverpool as well. He drives the press, demands standards, and has quickly become part of both the short- and long-term blueprint at Anfield.
Echoes of Gerrard and a nod to Nedved
When a player starts getting mentioned in the same breath as Steven Gerrard and Pavel Nedved, people sit up.
Inside Liverpool, Szoboszlai is increasingly seen as one of the standard-bearers of the new generation, walking a path once trodden by Gerrard. The comparison is not about romance; it’s about influence. Gerrard dragged teams with him. Szoboszlai is starting to do the same.
He has also drawn comparisons to Ballon d’Or winner Pavel Nedved, with former Liverpool midfielder Vladimir Smicer spotting similarities between the current No.8 and his fellow Czech great. The blend of work rate, drive and end product has stirred memories of Nedved at his peak.
Smicer, a 2005 Champions League winner who shared a dressing room with Gerrard, believes Szoboszlai’s role at Liverpool is only going to grow from here.
The next Liverpool captain?
That growth could soon come with a captain’s armband. Virgil van Dijk’s contract runs out next summer, and someone will eventually have to inherit the role of skipper.
Asked directly whether Szoboszlai could be the man to succeed the Dutch defender as Liverpool captain, Smicer – speaking to GOAL in association with Grosvenor Sport – did not hesitate.
“Will Dominik Szoboszlai succeed Virgil van Dijk to become the next captain of Liverpool? One day, yes. I can see it.
“It’s difficult to compare him as a player and as a captain to Steven Gerrard because Stevie G was grounded in Liverpool. He grew up in Liverpool. There was always that connection between the club, the city, the fans and Stevie G. It was something very special. Even the players in the Liverpool dressing room felt that and knew how it worked.
“Szobo has been at Liverpool for three years and Stevie G spent his whole life at Liverpool but he’s on the right path to follow in Stevie’s footsteps, and I think Stevie loves to watch Szobo play for Liverpool. If one day we say that Szobo is Stevie G’s successor, I don’t think he would be against that.”
The distinction is clear: Gerrard was the local hero, the embodiment of the city. Szoboszlai is the ambitious import who has had to earn his stripes quickly. But inside Anfield, there is a growing belief that he can carry a similar weight of responsibility, even if the story is written in a different way.
Chasing greatness and silverware
Szoboszlai may never rival Gerrard’s status in the hearts of Liverpool supporters. Gerrard is a once-in-a-generation figure, a symbol as much as a footballer.
But legacy is built on moments and medals, and Szoboszlai has time on his side. The new deal, the leadership talk, the comparisons to greats of the past – all of it points in one direction.
If he does take the armband and leads Liverpool to major trophies, his place in the club’s modern history will be secure. That is the stage he is now stepping onto.
Liverpool have started the 2026-27 season unbeaten, making steady progress both at home and in Europe. The foundations look solid. The project feels aligned.
Now the question hangs over Anfield: is this the season Dominik Szoboszlai stops being just a key player and starts becoming the defining figure of a new Liverpool era?
