Liverpool agree deal with Iraola to succeed Slot as head coach
Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement with Andoni Iraola to succeed Arne Slot as head coach, the BBC reports, ending weeks of speculation at Anfield. The 43-year-old Basque manager is now close to signing a three-year contract, replacing the Dutchman whose dismissal in late autumn followed a string of disappointing Premier League results.
Club officials are said to have prioritised Iraola through the closing weeks of the campaign. According to BBC sources, Liverpool have advanced preliminary discussions with Bournemouth over a compensation figure, reported to be in the region of 10 million pounds. The club aims to formally introduce Iraola before the start of pre-season for the 2026-27 Premier League campaign.
Iraola has gradually transformed Bournemouth over three seasons from a mid-table side into one knocking at European qualification. Bournemouth finished seventh in the Premier League in 2025-26, and his high-press, vertical-transition style of play has drawn extensive attention in the English football press. Writing for The Athletic, Liam Twomey described Iraola's profile as 'logically aligned with Liverpool's playing philosophy, though bringing a different map of priorities.'
The Spaniard's approach is built on the principle of seeking a vertical pass within the first three seconds after winning possession. Having worked under Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao as a player, Iraola applied this approach during his managerial stints at Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano. Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville said last month that Iraola is 'one of the rare candidates capable of preserving the high press inherited from Klopp while bringing a more controlled style of transition in midfield.'
The squad inherited by the new head coach was the focus of significant debate in the final weeks of the season. According to BBC reporting, Iraola wants reinforcements in midfield depth and at right-back during this transfer window. Meetings with sporting director Richard Hughes and owners Fenway Sports Group are said to have reaffirmed the priority of 'sustainable squad depth' for competition beyond the Premier League.
Iraola's departure from Bournemouth represents a substantial loss for the south-coast club. In comments to the BBC, Bournemouth chairman Bill Foley said 'we offer our sincere thanks to Andoni for his achievements, but this represents a difficult decision we have had to take before the transfer window opens.' Bournemouth also faces the prospect of losing one of Iraola's key assistants, Iñaki Caña.
According to football statistics firm StatsBomb, Bournemouth ranked second in the Premier League in 2025-26 for possessions won in the opposition half. The high-tempo ball-winning model Iraola will bring to Liverpool represents a notable break from the possession-first construction of the Slot era. BBC football analyst Phil McNulty emphasised that the club must embrace this transition as 'controlled chaos, not controlled possession.'
The timing of the formal announcement also intersects with the European calendar. Liverpool are expected in the coming days to announce plans for their post-2026 World Cup pre-season in the United States. The club has indicated it will not share full details of the pre-season programme until Iraola's coaching staff is finalised.
On the transfer front, Liverpool are looking to replace French centre-back Ibrahima Konaté, reported to be close to a move to Real Madrid, while BBC sources also place Atalanta Brazilian midfielder Ederson on the radar. Although Ederson is more likely to move to Manchester United, Liverpool's board is said to prefer to obtain Iraola's input on midfield depth before acting.
Fenway Sports Group's decision-making has proceeded with measured caution, mirroring patterns from recent managerial transitions. Slot's appointment after Klopp's 2024 departure had been presented as the start of a new era for Liverpool. Iraola's arrival after less than two seasons of that era is a test of how the ownership group will redefine the club's identity through its footballing language. This article does not constitute investment, betting or supporter-decision advice.