Liverpool have completed the signing of Roma forward Mohamed Salah on a five-year deal, with the fee rising to £34.3m, according to Sky sources.
Jurgen Klopp’s side had an initial offer of £28m rejected earlier in June ,but they have been dogged in their pursuit of the former Chelsea player and that persistence has been rewarded, with the contract officially beginning on July 1.
The 25-year-old had a medical at the Melwood training ground on Thursday and will wear the No 11 shirt next season, with Roberto Firmino switching to take the No 9 shirt. “Mohamed has the perfect mix of experience and potential – this is a really exciting signing for us,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com.
“He knows the Premier League, he has pedigree in the Champions League and he is one of the most important players for his country. “His record in Italy has been outstanding and he possesses qualities that will enhance our team and squad.
I have followed him since he emerged at Basel and he has matured into a really good player. “His pace is incredible, he gives us more attacking threat and we are already strong in this area. I like that we will make it even more competitive.
“Most important though, for us, is that he is hungry, willing and eager to be even better and improve further.
He believes in what we are trying to do here at Liverpool and is extremely keen to be part of it. He is very excited about performing for our wonderful supporters. “He is an ambitious player who wants to win and win at the highest level; he knows he can fulfil those ambitions with Liverpool.
“I welcome him and his family into our Liverpool family.” The Egypt international joined Chelsea from Basel for £11m in January 2014 but made just 19 appearances in a two-and-a-half spell at Stamford Bridge.
Loan spells with Fiorentina and Roma in Serie A subsequently revived his career, however, with Roma paying £12m to bring him to the Italian capital in July 2016.
Salah scored 15 goals last season as Roma finished second to Juventus in the league and will now cost Liverpool an initial £30.8m, rising to £34.3m, a fee that is just shy of the club-record £35m they paid to Newcastle for Andy Carroll in 2011.
Source: Sky Sports
