Liverpool have pulled off one of the biggest transfers of the summer window, agreeing a £70 million deal to sign Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo.
The 23-year-old Brazilian international has been Arne Slot and Richard Hughes' number one defensive target for weeks, and after intense negotiations that went right to the wire, personal terms were finalised late last night. Sources close to the deal have confirmed the medical is booked for tomorrow morning in London, with the player expected to sign a long-term contract until 2031.
This is the statement signing Liverpool fans have been crying out for.
With Ibrahima Konaté heading for the exit door when his contract expires in summer 2026, Joe Gomez available for the right bid this window, and Virgil van Dijk only 12 months away from the end of his own deal, the Reds hierarchy knew they had to act decisively. Signing two young, unproven centre-backs in Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet last year was always viewed as a long-term project. What Liverpool needed right now was a ready-made, Premier League-proven leader.
Murillo ticks every single box.
The left-footed Brazilian has been sensational since joining Nottingham Forest from Corinthians in 2023. In just two-and-a-half seasons he has racked up over 80 senior appearances, established himself as one of the best ball-progressing centre-backs in the division, and earned his first Brazil caps. His ability to carry the ball out from the back, switch play with pinpoint diagonal passes, and dominate duels has made him the talk of every scouting department in Europe.
Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich were all monitoring the situation closely, but it was Liverpool who moved first and fastest when Forest made it clear a £60m-£70m bid would be accepted this summer. The Reds' persistence finally paid off after they were forced to look elsewhere 12 months ago.
A club source told TEAMtalk: "Murillo was always the one they wanted. Last year the profile didn't quite fit the budget and the timing, so they went younger. This year the board backed Arne and Richard to go big. He's seen as the perfect modern partner for Virgil in the short term and the long-term successor once the captain eventually moves on."
Murillo himself is said to be "thrilled" and "over the moon" at the chance to join one of the biggest clubs in world football. His representatives had privately identified summer 2026 as the ideal moment for the next step in his career, and Liverpool's project under Slot convinced him this was the right move.
The fee, understood to be £70m all-in with add-ons, represents a club-record defensive signing for Liverpool and underlines the ambition of FSG's new football structure. It also sends a clear message to the rest of the Premier League: the Reds are back in the big-spending game when it matters most.
Murillo will fly to the UK in the next 48 hours to complete the medical and finalise paperwork. A formal announcement from Anfield is expected within the next 72 hours, with the player likely to be paraded at the AXA Training Centre next week.
Welcome to Liverpool, Murillo. The Kop is already waiting.
This is not just another signing. This is Liverpool fixing their biggest summer problem in the most emphatic way possible.
Here. We. Go.
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