After weeks of transfer whispers and rising speculation, Luis Diaz is officially on his way out of Liverpool.
The Colombian winger, a fan favorite at Anfield, has now departed the Reds’ pre-season tour in Japan to finalize a big-money move to Bayern Munich.
From Temple Visit to Terminal Gate
Interestingly, just hours before catching his flight to Germany, Diaz was still seen with his Liverpool teammates visiting the serene Ekoin Temple in Tokyo.
But that peaceful moment was followed by a significant goodbye, as he boarded a plane later that day headed for Munich—his new footballing home.
A Deal Too Big to Ignore
Bayern Munich had initially tried to tempt Liverpool with a bid in the region of £58.5 million, which was swiftly turned down.
The club made it clear at first: Diaz was not for sale.
But the Bundesliga champions returned with a stronger offer—£65.5 million including add-ons—which eventually tipped the scales.
Although Liverpool made a couple of efforts to extend Diaz’s contract, talks fell apart due to a significant gap between what the club offered and what the player’s camp expected.
Despite the club’s initial resistance, the deal was largely driven by Diaz’s own desire to move.
The Long Road to Departure
While this transfer might feel sudden, Diaz’s intention to leave has been brewing since the summer of 2024.
At the time, Liverpool held firm and refused to let him go. But this summer, the tone changed.
Diaz and his representatives pushed harder, and Liverpool finally relented after Bayern’s improved bid.
Missing the Milan Match
Manager Arne Slot confirmed that Diaz’s absence from Saturday’s 4-2 loss to AC Milan wasn’t due to injury, but because of the ongoing speculation surrounding his future.
“We decided not to play Lucho,” Slot explained during his post-match interview with LFC TV.
“There’s a lot of talk around him right now, and while he’s training well, we thought it was best to keep him out for now.”
Slot also revealed that Darwin Nunez missed the match due to injury, and that the team lacked a fit natural No. 9. Young forward Hugo Ekitike was on hand, but not ready to play.
Who Could Replace Diaz?
With Diaz off to Bayern, Liverpool are now eyeing reinforcements.
Newcastle striker Alexander Isak has caught the club’s attention as a potential attacking option.
Meanwhile, the Reds are also working on bolstering their defense.
Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Ajax youngster Jorrel Hato—who’s also on Chelsea’s radar—are both being considered as part of Liverpool’s transfer plans.