If you add a new domain to Google Search Console when the ownership of the domain is transferred, any manual actions attached to the domain will show up in Google Search Console.

Many site owners who have purchased a new domain – either from a third party reseller or purchasing a domain that has dropped – have discovered manual actions sitting in the account when they add them to Search Console.  It is a best practice to check Google Search Console when purchasing a domain to see if there are any manual actions in there.

This isn’t surprising, and is something Google has said previously.  After all, site owners need to be aware if there is a manual action on a site they need to remove, even if the manual action was due to actions of a previous owner (or previous SEO agency).

When adding a previously owned domain, it is also worth adding both the www and non-www versions of the site in Google Search Console for a manual actions check, as well as the https versions if applicable.  You might be using the www version of the new-to-you domain, but

Mueller also reminds that old messages, such as resolved manual actions, do not transfer to a new account holder.  So you may not be able to see any previous manual actions the domain might have had in the past.