Reds agree record deal to sign Keita
LONDON, Aug 29, (Agencies): Guinea international midfielder Naby Keita will join Premier League giants Liverpool next year after the English outfit agreed a reported club record deal of £48 million ($62m, 51.9m euros) with German side RB Leipzig.
Liverpool will also reportedly pay an undisclosed premium for the 22-year-old, who scored eight goals in 31 league appearances last term to help Leipzig finish runners-up in the title race.
“Liverpool Football Club can confirm they have reached an agreement with RB Leipzig for the future transfer of Naby Keita,” read the Liverpool statement.
“The Reds have agreed a deal with the German club and the midfielder that will see the 22-year-old move to Anfield on July 1, 2018 following the conclusion of the current season.”
Keita, who will be a pivotal figure in Leipzig’s maiden Champions League campaign this term, said his present side remained his immediate priority but he was delighted to be joining such a historic club.
“I am delighted that an agreement has been reached which will allow me to join Liverpool Football Club next summer, when I will become part of a project that excites me greatly,” Keita told the Liverpool website.
“My commitment to RBL remains absolute for the remainder of my time at the club. I have given my all every time I have worn the shirt — that will be the case until the final whistle, in my final appearance.
“Having my future resolved means I can now focus on helping RBL achieve great things this season. Until I join my new club, next summer, I will remain an interested supporter from a distance.”
Liverpool’s previous transfer record was the £35 million they paid Newcastle United to sign Andy Carroll in January 2011.
Keita
Stoke City have signed defender Kevin Wimmer from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur for £18 million ($23 million) on a five-year contract.
The 24-year-old Austria international has not played for Spurs this season, though he made 31 appearances in all competitions for the club since joining from Cologne in 2015.
Stoke announced the signing on their official Twitter feed on Tuesday and manager Mark Hughes said that he was satisfied with the club’s efforts to strengthen the defence.
“Kevin is an undoubted talent. He will significantly add to the quality of the group of players that I already have,” Hughes tweeted.
“We put a real emphasis on trying to enhance the defensive areas of the squad this summer. We feel that we have been able to do that.”
Wimmer is Stoke’s fourth permanent signing of the current window, and follows centre back Bruno Martins Indi, midfielder Darren Fletcher and Cameroon forward Eric Maxim ChoupoMoting to the club.
Hughes’ has also brought in forward Jese Rodriguez on a seasonlong loan from Paris St Germain and defender Kurt Zouma on a similar deal from Chelsea.
Celta Vigo midfielder Pape Diop has signed a five-year contract with Lyon, the French Ligue 1 side announced on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old moves to France in a deal reported to be worth 10 million euros ($12m) with 4 million euros in add-ons.
He is the seventh new recruit at Lyon who have had to strengthen their squad after losing Alexandre Lacazette, Corentin Tolisso and captain Maxime Gonalons over the summer.
Diop came under Lyon’s radar when he helped Spain lift the 2015 Under-19 European championship title, the club’s recruitment officer Florien Maurice revealed.
“He’s a player who had caught the eye of other big European clubs,” Lyon manager Bruno Genesio told a press conference.
Lyon are unbeaten after four outings of the new season to lie fourth in the table, four points shy of joint leaders Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco.
French champions AS Monaco have signed striker Stevan Jovetic from Italy’s Inter Milan on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee, the Ligue 1 and Serie A clubs said on Tuesday.
Montenegro international Jovetic joined Inter Milan from Manchester City on a permanent basis in January after an 18-month loan spell at the Italian club.
The 27-year-old spent the latter half of last season on loan at La Liga side Sevilla, where he scored seven goals and provided five assists in 24 appearances for the Spanish club.