New Liverpool signing Joel Matip expects it to be a “beautiful thing” when he walks out at Anfield for the first time after agreeing to join from Schalke.
The Reds confirmed earlier this week that the Cameroonian international defender will join on a free transfer when his Schalke contract expires in the summer.
SEE MORE: Schalke confirm Joel Matip to join Liverpool at the end of the season
Matip has admitted that it was a “difficult decision” to leave a club for whom he has made over 240 senior appearances since making his debut back in 2010.
But he was convinced by the prospect of a new challenge and the lure of Liverpool. He describes us as a club with “huge tradition” and cannot wait to get started.
“I thought about it for a long time. It was a difficult decision since I have been here since my childhood”, he was quoted as saying by LFC TV.
“I have lots of good memories and lots to thank the club and people here for. Despite that I think this is the right time for me to go abroad and experience something new.
“Liverpool are a club with huge tradition and I would imagine it is a beautiful thing when you walk out on the pitch there. The Premier League is a very special league, with high standards.”
Jurgen Klopp has said that snapping up the 24-year-old for nothing has “saved Liverpool millions” trying to sign a defender who is as good in the transfer market.
Matip joins a centre-back unit which could be eight strong next campaign. Empire of the Kop has assessed where Matip will rank in Klopp’s defensive pecking order.
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