Liverpool’s confirmed move for Víctor Muñoz now carries a short-term World Cup watch after the Spain forward missed the chance to feature in the 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia. The Reds announced on 18 June that they had agreed a deal with Osasuna for the 22-year-old, subject to a successful work permit application and international clearance, with the player completing a medical at Spain’s base in Tennessee.
The timing matters because Muñoz is not arriving as an inactive summer signing. Liverpool said he is currently on World Cup duty with Spain and will link up with Andoni Iraola’s squad later this summer once his tournament involvement is over.
Why Liverpool fans are still waiting for a first look
That wait has been extended by his fitness situation. ESPN’s pre-match team news said the new Liverpool signing had picked up an injury before Spain faced Saudi Arabia, while FOX’s match centre listed Muñoz among Spain’s substitutes without showing him as one of the players used in the 4-0 victory.
The transfer itself remains the central fact. Muñoz has signed a long-term contract, according to Liverpool’s official announcement, after a season at Osasuna in which he made 34 appearances, scored seven goals and supplied five assists in all competitions.
For Liverpool, the immediate focus is less about panic and more about timing. Spain still have World Cup business ahead, and Iraola will want his new forward arriving on Merseyside with clarity around both his fitness and his summer workload.
