The rise of Dominik Szoboszlai, from a promising talent in Hungary to a first-team job at Liverpool, is a story of ambition and real skill. I wrote this profile not long after his Anfield move, so I want to keep that snapshot honest: this is what we saw then, and then where he actually is now from our own data.
What we saw then
Player Profile: Dominik Szoboszlai
- Date of Birth: October 25, 2000
- Place of Birth: Székesfehérvár, Hungary
- Nationality: Hungary
- Height: 1.86 m
- Weight: 74kg
- Position: Centre Midfielder
- Other positions: Left Midfielder, Attacking Midfielder
- Preferred Foot: Right
By the time he reached Liverpool, Szoboszlai had grown into a well-regarded midfielder, valued for his dynamic presence and versatility across the middle. He brought technical quality and tactical sense, and his path from Hungary through RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig showed steady, real growth.
Early life and career beginnings
Hungarian roots
Szoboszlai’s Hungarian roots are part of who he is, on and off the pitch. Born in Székesfehérvár, he found football young. The city’s lively sports scene and football culture gave a young talent the right backdrop to fall for the game.
Youth career
His foundation was built at Fehérvár FC, from 2006, a brief but formative spell that ran to 2007. He then moved to Főnix Gold, where he spent a long stretch from 2007 to 2015.
In 2015 he stepped up to MTK Budapest, a club known for its youth development. That year sharpened his technical game. He returned to Főnix Gold in 2016, where his talent started to draw attention.
Breakthrough at Liefering
His second spell at Főnix Gold ran to 2017, and then came his breakthrough at Liefering, where he scored 16 goals in 42 appearances in the 2017-18 season. At Liefering his potential was obvious, and scouts across Europe took note. Those performances set up his rise at RB Salzburg.
Rise to prominence at RB Salzburg
Transfer to RB Salzburg
In January 2018, Szoboszlai moved to Liefering’s parent club, RB Salzburg, a real milestone. There he worked under some of the best coaching minds in Europe and built out his tactical understanding. Joining a club with that reputation for developing young players was a clear sign of where he was headed.
Impact at RB Salzburg
His Salzburg years were full of milestones. He debuted against Austria Wien on May 27, 2018. His first club goal came in a 6-0 Austrian Cup win against SC Eglo Schwarz. He netted his first league goal against Wacker Innsbruck on March 17, 2019. His Champions League debut, and first goal in the competition, came against Genk on September 17, 2019, in a 6-2 win.
From January 2018 to January 2021 he won four Austrian titles and three Austrian Cups. He scored 26 goals with 34 assists in 83 matches for Salzburg, and his 2019-20 form earned him the Austrian Bundesliga’s Player of the Season award before the move to RB Leipzig.
Career at RB Leipzig
2020-2021: the initial challenge
On 17 December 2020, RB Leipzig announced Szoboszlai on a four-and-a-half-year contract, until June 2025, eligible from January 2021. At a reported €20 million, he became the most expensive Hungarian player in history. An injury then delayed his start, turning his first season into a stretch of rehab and patience. As someone whose own career ended through a knee injury, I never underrate what a young player carries in a spell like that. Fans and staff stuck with him.
2021-2022: breakthrough
His 2021-22 comeback was strong. He opened his account in the DFB-Pokal and chipped in important Bundesliga goals that showed his attacking edge and flexibility. He made 31 appearances and scored 6 goals in the league, won the DFB-Pokal scoring twice in the run, and added two Champions League goals.
2022-2023: establishing himself
In 2022-23 his influence grew. Scoring against Dortmund and Bayern showed he could turn up in big games, and he won a second DFB-Pokal with a crucial goal in the final. He again made 31 league appearances and scored 6 goals, added three DFB-Pokal goals and a Champions League strike, and provided 13 assists across the season.
Move to Liverpool
On July 2, 2023, Liverpool activated a €60 million release clause for Szoboszlai. The five-year deal was a real investment in his future at Anfield. He became the third Hungarian to wear the Liverpool shirt, a clear sign of the club’s faith in him to strengthen the midfield.
He debuted against Chelsea in August 2023, and on September 3 scored his first Premier League goal against Aston Villa, becoming the first Hungarian to score for Liverpool. Early on he settled quickly and looked at home in English football.
The rising stock of Dominik Szoboszlai
Our bar chart traces the rise in Szoboszlai’s transfer value, based on Transfermarkt data.
From a modest €500k move to Salzburg U18 in 2017, his form pushed his value up fast. By 2021 came a €36 million switch to RB Leipzig, and the climb kept going, ending in a €70 million move to Liverpool in 2023. The jump from 2017 to 2023 sums up his journey from a promising talent to a prized asset.
International career
Through Hungary’s youth ranks
As captain of Hungary’s U17s at the 2017 UEFA European U17 Championship, Szoboszlai led with skill, scoring twice on the way to sixth place. He captained the U19s at the 2019 U19 Championship too, and his U21 debut came against Germany in September 2017, quick progress through the ranks.
Senior level and the captaincy
Szoboszlai earned his first senior call-up for games against Russia and Andorra and debuted on March 21, 2019, against Slovakia. His first international goal also came against Slovakia, at UEFA Euro 2020.
After Adam Szalai’s retirement and Peter Gulacsi’s injury, Szoboszlai was named Hungary’s captain. As captain he scored against Bulgaria in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier on March 27, 2023.
| Competition | Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Qualifiers | 16 | 6 | 4 |
| International Friendlies | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| UEFA Nations League | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| World Cup Qualification | 6 | 2 | 0 |
Playing style and strengths
Szoboszlai’s game mixes flair and function. His dribbling gets him through tight spaces, and his passing is precise enough to spark clean transitions from defence to attack. His long-range shooting is a constant threat. He is versatile, comfortable in several midfield roles but sharpest in advanced ones, which lets a coach drop him into different setups.
His vision stands out, often finding gaps in the opposition. His set-pieces add a real edge, with dangerous free-kicks and corners. Defensively his work rate is genuine: he presses and helps win the ball back, which is exactly what I look for in a modern number 8. That combination makes him a creative force who still does the team’s dirty work.
Where is he now
Here is the part I could not write at the time. Everything below comes from our own data. He is still at Liverpool, and after that quieter debut league season for goals, his numbers have climbed. His minutes have been consistent, which for a midfielder tells you as much as the goals do.
| Season | Club | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | RB Leipzig | 31 | 6 |
| 2022/23 | RB Leipzig | 31 | 6 |
| 2023/24 | Liverpool | 33 | 3 |
| 2024/25 | Liverpool | 36 | 6 |
| 2025/26 | Liverpool | 36 | 6 |
For his live ratings, current form, and a full breakdown of his game, see our Dominik Szoboszlai scout report.
The verdict
Szoboszlai’s path from Hungary’s youth ranks to a regular role at Liverpool and the national captaincy is a credit to his talent and work. Dynamic on the ball, sharp in his passing, and versatile, he has left a mark on every side he has played for, and his numbers at Anfield have kept trending the right way. The thing I keep coming back to is the appearance count: 33, then 36, then 36 in the Premier League. A player who is trusted with that many minutes in a demanding side, season after season, has clearly won the dressing room and the manager, and that is often the truest measure of a midfielder.