Liverpool news

Adam Lallana signs for Liverpool

01-07-2014

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Liverpool have completed the signing of Adam Lallana from Southampton in a deal believed to be worth up to 25 million pounds.

Lallana, 26, was Liverpool's top transfer target at the start of the summer, as manager Brendan Rodgers set about strengthening his squad ahead of their return to the Champions League after a four-year absence.

But the Reds have had to be persistent to push the deal through, having had two initial bids rejected, with the player undergoing a medical over the weekend.

"I'm so excited for the next chapter of my career, coming to a special club like Liverpool," Lallana told the club's official website. "I'm quite humbled and I just can't wait to get started.

"Hopefully I can settle in quickly, and I will give it my best throughout the whole time I'm here.

"I hope I can add something to the team and hopefully we can win trophies while I'm here, because that's why I'm here -- for success."

Lallana -- who featured in all three matches of England's doomed campaign at the World Cup in Brazil -- becomes Liverpool's third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of striker Rickie Lambert, also brought in from Southampton, and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Emre Can.

He was shortlisted for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award earlier this year but lost out to his new teammate, Luis Suarez.

The move ends Lallana's 14-year association with Southampton, who he joined from Bournemouth in 2000 at the age of 12.

"What is apparent about Adam is that his character is on a par with his talent," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers added on Liverpool's website.

"He is an exceptional young man and someone who has a love for the game - and, most importantly, a desire to progress and improve.

"Adam is motivated by being the best he can be and being part of something special. We believe he fits right in with what we are trying to do at Liverpool."

Lallana had made it clear that he wanted to join Liverpool at the end of last season, sources told ESPN FC, with the South Coast club happy to grant him his wish so long as they received the transfer fee they believed to be fitting for one of the rising stars of the English game.

The stumbling block in negotiations came over the sell-on fee Lallana's former club Bournemouth are entitled to, with Southampton holding out for a 22 million pound fee for their England midfielder and encouraging Liverpool to settle on a fee with the Championship side.

According to sources, those negotiations held up Lallana's move in the last few days, but they have been resolved.

Having sold defender Luke Shaw to Manchester United last Friday, new Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is set to embark on a rebuilding programme having been promised in excess of 50 million pounds to spend this summer on targets.