Doni seals Liverpool move

Liverpool have announced the signing of Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni for an undisclosed fee.

The 31-year-old will put pressure on the English Premier League club’s number one Pepe Reina, who has been a regular at the club since signing from Villarreal in 2005 and has been rumoured to be a target for other teams in the past.

Fringe Brazil international Doni follows midfielders Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam as off-season arrivals to Anfield, with Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing set to join them.

Liverpool director of football, Damien Comolli told Liverpoolfc.tv: “We are delighted to sign Doni. It’s a position we felt we had to strengthen because it will allow our young goalkeepers to go on loan and get some experience at some point during the season, which is crucial in their development.”

“We are getting a very experienced goalkeeper who is used to handling the pressure of big games and international matches with Brazil. He had a very good end of last season with Roma, so we are very pleased.”

Doni spent time at Botafogo, Corinthians, Santos, Cruzeiro and Juventude in his homeland before signing for Serie A club Roma in 2005.

He made 179 appearances for the capital city club during his six-year stint in Italy, twice winning the Coppa Italia alongside a SuperCoppa Italiana title.

Doni has represented his country on 10 occasions and was part of the squad which won the 2007 Copa America.

His arrival at Anfield is tipped to spell the end of Brad Jones’ stint at the club.