KOP BAG £65M KEEPER
ROMA STAR ALISSON DELIGHTED WITH LIVERPOOL SWITCH FOR A WORLD RECORD FEE
Liverpool have completed the world-record signing of goalkeeper Alisson – and with it their summer transfer business.
It is understood that the Reds have agreed to pay a guaranteed £56million up front, with £53.8m going to Roma and £2.2m to the Brazil ian’s former club, Internacional.
They will pay a further £9m in add-ons, dependent on Champions League qualification and also wins in that competition, Europa League or Premier League.
Alisson, 25, has signed a six-year contract.
Although they have smashed the existing fee for a goalkeeper, the £35million Manchester City paid for Ederson, the fee is well below the £90m Liverpool were quoted in May.
A swift conclusion to the transfer was necessary as Chelsea were interested, but the Blues had to finalise the future of Real Madrid target Thibaut Courtois before they could act and that allowed Liverpool to steal a march on their Premier League rivals.
Alisson told Liverpoolfc. com: “I’m really happy, it’s a dream come true to wear such a prestigious shirt for a club of this size that is used to always winning.
“In terms of my life and my career, it’s a huge step for me being part of this club and this family.
“You can be certain that I’ll give my all.”
Alisson started all five of Brazil’s matches and kept three clean sheets at the recently-completed World Cup, where the South American superpowers were knocked out by Belgium in the quarter-finals.
He was also a virtual ever-present for Roma last season as they finished third in Serie A and reached the Champions League semifinals, knocked out 7-6 on aggregate by Liverpool.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp believes he has secured the services of one of the game’s top keepers.
The German said: “At one point in the last few weeks it came up, the opportunity to sign one of the world’s best goalkeepers – then it’s not a long thought, to be honest. The full package is just good.
“He needs to adapt to the English Premier League. The league is different, the refs are different, the goalkeeper life is different in the Premier League.
“Age-wise he can improve, the best years are coming in the goalkeeper life, so it’s all good.”
The world-record fee can be partly offset by the £12.5million sale of Wales keeper Danny Ward to Leicester.
Alisson’s arrival, following on from that of midfielders Naby Keita and Fabinho, and winger Xherdan Shaqiri, is understood to have completed Klopp’s business for the summer.