Liverpool have finally landed their second summer signing, Thiago Alcantara from German Champions, Bayern Munich for £20m.
The 29 year old midfielder, whose fee may rise to £25m with bonuses has described the move as “an amazing feeling”.
The Spaniard who will be wearing number 6 shirt added that “I was waiting for this moment for a long time and I am very happy to be here”.
His £20m fee will be paid in instalments over the length of the deal, and up to an additional £5m will be paid based on the Reds’ success in the Premier League and Champions League as well as any individual awards earned by Thiago.
Thiago will be eligible to feature in Liverpool’s Sunday clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and follows the Greek left back Kostas Tsimikas who was signed late last month.
He won 2 LaLiga titles with Barcelona before heading to Bayern in 2013 where he won the Bundesliga title seven times, lifting up four Germany Cups and a Champions League trophy.
The Liverpool Manager responded to the arrival of his midfield target by saying, “absolutely great – I’m really happy that it finally worked out and we could just do it”
He added that, “I know all the people at Bayern wanted to keep him desperately. That’s normal and understandable because he played an important role, in the last season as well.”
“He just was ready for a new challenge and he decided for us,” said Klopp.
Thiago added: “I must adapt to the team as fast as I can in the situation and the context that we are living right now.”
“Everything is more compact and we started a little bit later, but still it is football and I think we have to mix all the big things up, all the good things we have.”
“I will help the team in a defensive and offensive way and also in a mental aspect.“
Klopp said: “When we spoke about all the players, he respects them all massively. He admires them.”
“We played against him when we played Munich in the Champions League two years ago, so he knows what kind of machine we can be and he wanted to be part of that.“
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