London - Arabs Today
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal for a fee of £35 million.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has signed a five-year deal worth around £120,000 a week. It is quite a coup for Liverpool, having taken a player from Arsenal and denied Chelsea one of their prime targets in the process.
The England midfielder has not selected a squad number as yet – he has requested more time to consider the options.
The deal takes Liverpool’s spending in this transfer window to around £130 million, at least, although RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita will not join until next year and Dominic Solanke’s price is to be determined by tribunal.
The Premier League's done deals on Deadline Day
In a statment on the Liverpool website, Oxlade-Chamberlain said he was "delighted" to have become the club’s fourth signing of the summer.
“I’m currently away with England, so I’m at St George’s Park," Oxlade-Chamberlain said. "Firstly, I’m delighted to have signed for Liverpool and a big thank-you to everyone here at the FA that has made this possible, using the facilities. It has been a massive help.
“I’m not going to say too much today; I’m here with England and we’ve got two big games coming up, so I want to focus on them. But I can’t wait to get to Melwood and you’ll hear first from me on LFCTV.”
Manager Jürgen Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com: “I am really, really happy we have got Alex signed. Since the last game I have been waiting and hoping we could make this transfer - and when I got the news he was ours it was fantastic.
“I remember the first time I saw him play live - it was at Dortmund in 2014 and he came on as a sub that day and made a big impact. He stood out immediately because of his pace and skills and his attitude in such a big game for a young player; I remember him chasing back to make a brilliant challenge on Mkhitaryan in the box to save a certain goal.
“We won that game but lost the return match at Arsenal when he started and played well, I think he hit the post. Since then I have followed him and when I heard it may be possible to sign him I didn't need to think twice.
Jürgen Klopp had said he is a long-time admirer of Oxlade-Chamberlain Credit: EPA
“I hear a lot of talk about positions but let's talk about the player; he is someone with really good abilities who always gives everything for his team. A player that is positive and willing to take risks to try and make positive things happen.
“He may still be young but he has a lot of experience in the Premier League, Champions League and for his country. Already he is a very, very good player and I think he has the mentality and desire to get even better - and that excites me.
“This is someone making a tough decision to leave one great club and come to another great club and I think he had many options, so to get him means I am delighted.
“He didn't make an easy decision but I think he made a great one to go on this journey with this squad of talented boys and our great supporters."
Source: AFP