Yahoo News Thiago Alcantara signs for Liverpool in deal worth initial £20m
Liverpool have completed the signing of Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara on a four-year contract.
The Spain international, who was in the last year of his deal with the Bundesliga club, arrives for an initial fee of £20million.
Manager Jurgen Klopp insists the 29-year-old's arrival will not "negatively impact" any player in his squad despite Georginio Wijnaldum being heavily linked to Barcelona.
Earlier in the day Thiago had bid an emotional farewell to Bayern, saying he wanted a "new challenge".
"I have made the most difficult decision of my sports career," he said in a video posted on Twitter.
"I will close this chapter on this wonderful club where I have grown as a player for seven years. Triumphs, joy and also hard times.
"But what I am most proud of is that I arrived in Munich as a young man filled with dreams and now I will leave completely fulfilled with a club, a history and a culture.
"My decision is purely of a sporting nature. As a soccer player I want new challenges to develop myself further."
After sparking into life what had been a relatively inactive transfer window for the Premier League champions, Liverpool’s spending may not end there. The club is also interested in Watford's Ismaila Sarr, and Wolves striker Diogo Jota.
For now, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp will be thrilled to have the Thiago deal so close after months of interest.
The fee may potentially rise to £25m should Thiago be part of a title-winning or Champions League-winning side over the course of his Anfield career.
On request, he has been allocated Liverpool’s No6 six jersey.
It is a measure of the transfer coup that Bayern are so deflated to lose the player having offered him fresh terms following their recent Champions League victory.
“Thiago was an exceptional player for seven years for Bayern Munich,” said Bayern coach Hansi Flick.
“The way he played he gave many options to the team, he was a surprising player because he solved problems in ways people did not expect. It was a joy working with him. He is an absolute professional and a great person. I congratulate Klopp. He gets a top player and a sensational person.”
