Italian Inter Milan’s £30m gamble on Curtis Jones fuels English influx

Inter Milan are on the verge of signing Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones for a fee of around £30 million, according to a report by LEWIS STEELE in FOOTBALL on 19 August 2026. The six‑time England international, who joined Liverpool at nine, has long wanted a move to Serie A.

Both clubs are currently in dialogue, with Inter signalling readiness to meet the £30 million price tag. An earlier bid of about £21 million was rejected earlier this summer. The Italian press expect an official announcement within hours and a medical has already been scheduled.

Inter Milan's English recruitment drive

If the transfer goes through, Jones will become the third English player Inter Milan have secured this window. The San Siro side already added Manchester City defender John Stones on a free transfer and Tottenham’s Djed Spence for an undisclosed fee. Both moves underline the Italian champions’ focus on English talent.

Jones’s ambition to play in Serie A aligns with Inter’s midfield needs, and his six‑time England caps add experience. He has struggled to become a regular starter at Anfield, often behind Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz. The midfielder’s long‑standing wish to move to Italy makes him an attractive target.

Implications for Liverpool and Inter

Liverpool are preparing for their first season under new manager Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot after the Dutchman’s dismissal at the end of last season. Jones has been viewed as a squad player, while the club has already signed centre‑half Jeremy Jacquet from Stade Rennais and winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna. The departures of Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Ibrahima Konate this summer further open up the squad.

Last summer Liverpool spent over £450 million on signings such as Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, yet the 2024‑25 Premier League champions only managed a fifth‑place finish and a narrow Champions League qualification. Jones’s exit reflects the club’s reshaping of a midfield that struggled to deliver under the Dutch coach.

Jones entered Liverpool’s academy at the age of nine, progressing through the ranks before making his senior debut. Despite his development, he never cemented a regular starting spot, prompting his desire to seek regular football elsewhere.