Liverpool Announce the Signing of Takumi Minamino from FC Salzburg

Premier League club Liverpool announced the signing of Japanese star Takumi Minamino from Austrian club FC Salzburg.

He is set to join the Reds of Liverpool on January 1, with a transfer fee of around £7.25 million ($10m) reported to be agreed with Red Bull Salzburg.

Minamino has scored nine goals and provided 11 assists in 22 appearances for Salzburg this season.

“It has been a dream, my dream to become a Liverpool player,” he said.

“To play in the Premier League was one of my targets. I think this is the top-class league in the world. I was thinking if my career as a footballer progressed smoothly, someday I would be able to play in the Premier League.

“But I never thought I would be able to play in this team and I’m really happy about it. I’m looking forward to it.”

Minamino game caught the eye of a few Kops when Salzburg and Liverpool met in the Champions League. After a a tight match that ended 4-3 in favour of Liverpool, the reds full back Andy Robertson was impressed by the 24-year old Japanese.

“It was difficult to play against Salzburg full stop, but I thought he was their man man,” the Scotland international told the Liverpool Echo.

“When we went 3-0 up, he started to dictate the game. He started to run at us a wee bit and he got a goal and an assist.

“That might be why the gaffer started looking at him and thinking ‘who is this player?’.

“In the two games we played against them, he was great. Other than that, I hadn’t really seen him play.

“He will be a welcome addition for us and I’m sure he will be a fantastic player.”

Minamino place in the Liverpool side might now be interesting to see  He can play either as a winger or in an attacking role in the midfield.

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana felt that his addition would call for more competition within the club for starting places.

Lallana told Liverpool’s official website: “Fantastic signing.

“It’s going to be more competition for places again, which is hugely positive to have. The more you’re competing, the higher the level is in training. That means the quality is going to be higher on a Saturday, Wednesday or whenever we’re playing.

“It’s fantastic news that we’ve made another addition and I’m really looking forward to meeting him when we get back.”