Liverpool agree club record deal to sign Guinean midfielder from RB Leipzig.
By: Staff Writer Photo courtesy of : Liverpoolfc.com
Liverpool have agreed to sign the 22 year old Naby Keita from the German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
The transfer will take effect on July 2018 as the Reds will be activating the Guinean’s release clause attached to his current contract. The Merseyside club will splash out £48m for his release clause plus a premium to secure the deal.
“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.” —Naby Keita, Liverpoolfc.com
Naby’s move to Anfield will make him the club’s record signing surpassing Andy Carroll who cost the club £35m back in 2011. The midfielder will also become the most expensive African player of all time as his price tag sees him surpass Premier League legends like Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and soon to be Keita’s teammates Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
The German side had previously rejected two bids from Liverpool, mooted to be around the £70m mark, insisting that they would want to keep one of their breakthrough stars for their debut season in Europe’s most prestigious tournament, the UEFA Champions League. But now a deal has been reached that will satisfy both parties, Leipzig keep their star for one more season and Liverpool will finally have their man next summer for a much lower price.
Keita flew in to Liverpool on Monday and finalized terms at Melwood after successfully completing his medical.
