Liverpool complete swoop for Bayern star Thiago

Liverpool have completed the signing of Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich in a deal worth up to £25million (€27.5m).

Thiago was rumoured to be a target of Jurgen Klopp’s before the transfer window opened, with the Reds boss aiming to add more creativity to his midfield unit.

The Premier League champions have now got their man, with the 29-year-old – whose deal at Bayern was due to expire in June 2021 – signing a four-year contract at Anfield.

Stats Perform News understands Liverpool will pay an initial £20m (€22m), with an additional £5m (€5.5m) in bonuses.

The moment you’ve all been waiting for…#ThiagoFriday  pic.twitter.com/s2tOCvnHta

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 18, 2020

Liverpool’s pursuit of Thiago developed into something of a saga, with the midfielder acknowledging his signing has felt “a long time” in the making, but he is now relishing further success on Merseyside, where he has been impressed by a feeling of unity.

“I think it’s an amazing feeling. I was waiting for this moment for a long time and I am very, very happy to be here,” he told the club’s website.

“When the years are passing, you are trying to win as much as you can – and when you win, you want to win more. I think this club describes what I am as well; I want to achieve all of the goals, win as many trophies as possible.

“It also [has] this kind of family [feeling] that I need because we [like to] have a very close relationship with the club and I think I will feel this, I will have this feeling, with this club as well.

“[The supporters] are not more excited than I am, for sure not! It is not about saying words, it is about doing the things. I will give my heart on the field to my teammates, the club and also to the fans.”

 #YNWA @LFC pic.twitter.com/Tfv1IbSqJN

— Thiago Alcantara (@Thiago6) September 18, 2020

Spain international Thiago has thrived since joining Bayern in 2013, having been brought to the Bundesliga giants by his former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola.

After coming through at Barca as an attacking midfielder, Thiago has dropped into a deeper role in recent seasons and was integral to Bayern’s treble success in 2019-20.

In total, Thiago made 235 appearances in all competitions across his seven seasons with Bayern, scoring 31 goals and providing 35 assists.

Thiago, who will wear the number six shirt for Liverpool, helped Bayern to seven successive Bundesliga titles, four DFB-Pokal wins and one Champions League triumph.

He becomes Liverpool’s second signing of the transfer window following the arrival of left-back Kostas Tsimikas.