Jurgen Klopp has sung the praises of Loris Karius, after Liverpool confirmed the £4.7m transfer via the official website.
The 22-year-old has been sublime for Mainz in the Bundesliga this season, and will now compete with Simon Mignolet for the starting spot between Liverpool’s sticks, after we took advantage of his bargain release clause.
“I am delighted we have signed Loris, he has had a fantastic season with Mainz and has developed into a very good goalkeeper since his return to Germany,” the manager said.
“I am really pleased that we were able to move so quickly to get him and that Loris has shown such a desire to come to Liverpool with a lot of other clubs interested in him.
“I know he will add to the quality we have in this position and I look forward to working with him and all our players when we return for pre-season.”
Mignolet signed a five year contract extension earlier this season, and with Karius’s long-term deal, it’s clear that the club want to approach the next years of Klopp’s reign with these two battling for the starting spot.
The young German has the no.1 jersey, but only symbolically due to Mignolet’s preference for no.22 – and time will tell which stopper earns the starting position.
Karius is only 6 ft. 2′, but is an extraordinary shot-stopper and has been heavily involved with Germany at various youth level.
He has experience of English football having previously been on the books at Manchester City as a youngster, but will now represent their rivals in the Premier League.
Liverpool have so far acquired Joel Matip, Marko Grujic and Loris Karius ahead of the 2016/17 campaign, but you can expect plenty more to follow in Klopp’s first summer in charge.