Liverpool announce Minamino signing

European Champions Liverpool have officially signed 24-year old Japanese winger Takumi Minamino from RB Salzburg for 7.25 million Euros. 

Minamino will join Liverpool on January 1, when the winter transfer window will be opened. 

Minamino had his medical at Melwood on Wednesday before the deal was officially announced. 

Minamino, in an interview after joining the current Premier League leaders, said that it was his dream to play for Liverpool. He said, "It has been a dream, my dream to become a Liverpool player. And I'm so excited that the moment has come true."

The Japanese winger also added that he wanted to win the Premier League with the Reds. "My target is to win the Premier League and the Champions League, and to make good contributions to the team," he said. 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also praised the new inclusion as a wonderful signing. He said, "This is fabulous news – a wonderful signing. We are really, really happy about this." 

"Takumi is a very quick, very clever player, he finds space between the lines. He is brave with the ball but also brave without the ball – a proper team player. He makes the best of himself for the benefit of others," the German manager added on the electric Japanese. 

Minamino will wear the jersey no. 18, which was vacant since the departure of Alberto Moreno in 2019. 

Minamino caught everyone's eye when he scored for RB Leipzig to equalise in a 4-3 thriller against Liverpool at Anfield. Minamino had been playing for the Austrian club for the last five years, where he has scored 64 goals in 199 matches. He also has found the net 11 times in 22 international appearances for Japan.