Is Jeremie Frimpong the Right Successor to Trent Alexander-Arnold?

It has been almost a month since the Premier League Champions announced their first blockbuster signing of the summer. Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong made the switch to Anfield for €40m.

The attacking full-back has had a career-defining stint with Leverkusen, making him one of the best players in the world in his position so a move to the English top-flight is nothing short of what he deserves.

Liverpool's latest right-back has arrived 👋

Jeremie Frimpong, welcome to the Premier League 🤝 pic.twitter.com/bhzC1iQEeq

— Premier League (@premierleague) May 30, 2025

The Dutch international will step straight into the boots of academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who moved to Real Madrid. There is much anticipation surrounding this transfer, and there is no doubt about Frimpong’s talent. But moving to the Premier League’s biggest club comes with a lot of pressure, so will he be the right successor for Trent?

Player Profile

Most recently featuring for Bayer Leverkusen in the German top-flight, Jeremie Frimpong has completed a loop, as he started in the Premier League as a Manchester City academy graduate in Pep Guardiola’s early years at the Etihad.

He started in the youth ranks at The Citizens, from 2016 for three seasons. After those three seasons and never really getting a chance in the first team, Frimpong decided to move on in search of regular match minutes elsewhere.

He found this in Scotland, with Neil Lennon’s Celtic, switching to Celtic Park for €380k. Starting his first season in professional football at just 18, he took to the Scottish Premiership like a duck to water, featuring 13 times and winning the treble, as well as being voted Young Player of the Season in his first pro campaign.

It only took him five months into the next season to start getting noticed by some of Europe’s elite. And at the end of January 2021, he departed The Hoops for Bayer Leverkusen of Germany.

After starting just four games until the end of the season, he made the right back position his own the following campaign, playing 25 times and proving his creative assets true with two goals and eight assists. From here he only shone further, and in October 2022, Xabi Alonso was made head coach, adopting a three-back which allowed Frimpong to roam further forward, paying dividends as the Dutchman scored nine times from right-back, and assisting 10 from 48 appearances in all competitions.

Jeremie Frimpong at Bayer Leverkusen:

🏟️ 190 games
⚽ 30 goals
🅰️ 44 assists
🏆 3 titles
👑 Invincible Bundesliga Champion

... and at the same time one of the most likable players this club has seen🫂

Thank you, @JeremieFrimpong🖤❤️ pic.twitter.com/HyZxFfftFc

— WerkselfXtra (@bayer04Xtra) May 17, 2025

He matched this once more the season after, playing an integral role which saw Leverkusen go invincible in the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal, losing just once all season – in the Europa League final to Atalanta as they adopted the name ‘Neverlsuen’. Frimpong starred throughout the season and was named in the Bundesliga and Europa League Team of the Season squads, with him and Spanish teammate and left-back Alejandro Grimaldo forming an incredible and dangerous partnership on the flanks by the name ‘Grimpong’.

The now 24-year-old has however, had a difficult career at international level since making his debut in October 2023. He has found it challenging to dispossess Denzel Dumfries at right-back for Oranje. A predominant feature off the bench, he will hope to get consistent minutes in the future with the FIFA World Cup just under a year away.

As a player, Jeremie Frimpong is such a lethal asset up and down the pitch for his side, with his blistering pace and exceptional dribbling enough to out-skill most world-class defenders one on one. His work rate is not to be faulted either, as he averaged over 4km covered per match in their invincible season.

(Source: FBRef)

Being able to carry the ball superbly and with his rapid pace, it is no wonder he excelled under the coaching of Xabi Alonso, unlocking Frimpong’s ability to go forward and run at defences. Looking at some of the stats above, it is unsurprising Liverpool opted for the Dutchman to succeed Alexander-Arnold.

Where Does Frimpong Slot In?

Arne has certainly taken the right direction in aims of winning back-to-back Premier League titles. But he may need to adapt his tactics slightly in order to accommodate the incoming Dutch international.

If he wants to get the most out of his new man, perhaps shifting into a back three whilst in the attacking transition could be the right idea. Alternatively, they can also adopt a three-back formation to start with to allow Frimpong to roam up the pitch on his command. With men behind him, this will allow Frimpong to drift up the right flank and take on defenders, eventually whipping a delightful ball into the box.

In comparison to Alexander-Arnold, he was involved in the play defensively and offensively, whereas Frimpong is mainly involved higher up the pitch, where he can be ever so lethal.

(Source: BBC/Opta)

As the above screenshot suggests, Frimpong is much more likely to take on a defender one on one and then play a cross while Trent is more likely to carry on with the build-up and play another pass. Frimpong attempts over double the number of dribbles than his predecessor but passes half as much.

Is He the Right Successor for Trent?

Now for the main question, will Frimpong be the right man to replace Trent. The short answer is yes, especially going forward, Frimpong possesses more of a threat in the final third than Trent ever did but defensively is still an issue for Liverpool.

(Source: BBC/Opta)

Alexander-Arnold was much more prevalent in The Reds defence, with Frimpong performing significantly less tackles and interceptions being cause for concern for Slot. But it is what they value more. Liverpool still has one of the best centre-halves on the planet in Virgil Van Dijk – Dutch teammate of Frimpong, The Reds captain knows his playstyle so will be very much familiar to playing alongside him which could spare some blushes.

Liverpool also picked up Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, so it will be interesting to see how Slot will fit both of them into the side. Frimpong is excellent business from The Reds, and he will star for Liverpool and is definitely the right successor for Trent.