Liverpool F.C. have completed the signing of forward Divock Origi from Lille OSC for an undisclosed fee.
The Belgium international, 19, will spend the 2014/15 campaign on loan at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy before returning to Merseyside next summer.
Origi, who showed off his talents at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, had been attracting interest from a host of European clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur.
“I am very, very happy and delighted a club as big as Liverpool showed interest in me,” Origi told the Reds’ official website. “I’m very excited.
“I know it’s a club with a great history, great fans and a lot of great players. For me, Liverpool is one of the greatest clubs in the world and I’m very excited to be part of this great history.”
Origi, who joins for a fee believed to be in the region of £10 million, is Brendan Rodgers’ fifth summer signing, following the likes of Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Emre Can, Lazar Marković and Rickie Lambert to Anfield.
Rodgers added: “For me, he can be one of the most exciting talents in world football. I genuinely believe that.
“You see a lot of good players, but this kid – for 19 years of age – he burst onto the scene at the World Cup, but we’d tracked him before that, we’d seen him as a young player playing in the youth internationals. He has everything to be world class.
“He’s super fast, has a wonderful touch, he’s a good size and is aggressive. What I like, and what I have in other players, is that humility to work hard.
“I’ve seen enough of him over the course of the last couple of seasons to think this is a kid who, coming into the right environment, can genuinely be world class.
“He will go back to Lille and play there for the season on loan, but by signing him, we’ll have a wonderful player – not only now when he comes in next season, but also in the future.
“He can light up world football, for sure.”
Origi bagged five goals in 30 Ligue 1 appearances, albeit just 12 starts, for Lille last season.
Ross Barkley pens new Everton deal
Everton F.C. midfielder Ross Barkley has penned a new four-year contract with the Toffees, keeping him at Goodison Park until the summer of 2018.
The England international, 20, is arguably the mos exciting player to watch in the English Premier League and the fact that he’s committed his long-term future to Everton will absolutely delight manager Roberto Martinez and the club’s supporters.
“As soon as I got told about it, I knew I was going to sign,” said Barkley. “It means everything, signing the new contract. It is a dream to have been playing for Everton all my life and today is a great thing for me.
“I am settled in at Everton, this is the Club I love. I see it as my home, I never think of anything away from Goodison.
“Putting pen-to-paper is great and now I want to focus on doing everything right on the pitch and that will hopefully lead to bigger and better things here.”
According to reports, the new deal is worth £65,000-a-week.
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