Liverpool have finalised the signing of Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong after activating his £29.5million release clause.
The right wing-back has inked a five-year contract at Anfield and becomes their first summer signing after completing his medical earlier this month.
His challenge is to fill the boots of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is leaving at the end of his contract and widely expected to join Real Madrid.
But Frimpong’s record speaks glowingly of his potential. The 24-year-old has scored 28 goals in the last three seasons and assisted a further 35.
In a statement to the club’s website, Frimpong promised supporters that he will give his all in the pursuite of trophies at Anfield.
‘It went quite easy. Liverpool came and said they had interest, and obviously for me it was a no-brainer,’ he said. ‘For me, it was like, “Whatever you guys do, just get this done”, [speaking to] my agents: ‘Just get this done.’
Liverpool have completed the signing of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5m
The Dutch international has penned a five-year deal at Anfield and knows several players
He signs as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will likely join Real Madrid
‘Liverpool fans, I’m going to give my all, my energy, my work-rate and hopefully we can win together, we celebrate together, get everything together.
‘I’m just excited to be here. Thank you guys for accepting me and I won’t let you guys down and I’ll give you the energy that you guys want.’
Frimpong has become one of Europe’s most talked-about defenders under Xabi Alonso, playing a key role in Leverkusen’s unbeaten domestic double last season.
The 12-time Dutch international links up with his countryman Arne Slot, who he knows well, and his international team-mates Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and Ryan Gravenberch.
He first landed in the UK a few days ago and has now been confirmed as the first signing of what Slot says will be a big summer.
Frimpong has already been making himself popular by congratulating Gravenberch on winning the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year Award.
Evidently eager to adapt his English to align with the local Scouse dialect, Frimpong jokingly commented on Gravenberch’s post: ‘Ryan laaa,’ followed by a heart emoji and trophy emoji.
A product of the Manchester City academy, Frimpong moved to Celtic in 2019, where he quickly became a fan favourite and won a domestic treble in his first season.
Arne Slot is looking to strengthen his side after lifting the Premier League title in his debut year
The Reds are pursuing Bayer Leverkusen’s sensational Florian Wirtz, who could cost £126m
He joined Leverkusen in January 2021 and has since developed into one of Europe’s most dynamic right-sided defenders.
A key attribute is his pace. He clocked 36.34kph this season, ranking him as the seventh-quickest player in the Bundesliga.
Frimpong has earned 12 senior caps for the Netherlands. He was part of the Dutch side which reached the semi-finals of the Euros, even assuming a more attacking role due to the competition at right-back with Denzel Dumfries and Lutsharel Geertruida.
Frimpong added: ‘I spoke to the manager a few times,” he said. “He sounds very positive. He says I can bring a lot of energy and my qualities, my speed.
‘Especially when a manager is talking positively about you, it gives you very good confidence that he believes in you. I’ve had good conversations with him.
‘I’m really excited [to work with Arne Slot]. Even when I was at [the] national team, some of the Feyenoord boys would tell me about him and be like, ‘He’s the best coach I’ve ever had.’ Things like this.
‘So, I’ve always heard good things about the coach. Now he’s going to be my coach, so I’m excited for that.’
Liverpool also remain keen on Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez and a centre-back after missing out on his club mate Dean Huijsen, who is joining Real Madrid for £50m.
The 22-year-old is expected to link up with his former Leverkusen colleague at Anfield
Meanwhile, the Reds are close to obliterating the British transfer record for Florian Wirtz.
The 22-year-old, a close friend of Frimpong, is regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in the game and he will be Arne Slot’s headline addition of the window.
Leverkusen, as Mail Sport reported on February 18 when Manchester City’s interest in Wirtz first came to light, have made it clear they want €150million (£126m); Liverpool’s currently have a bid of €130m (£109m) lodged but it is understood that middle ground will be found quickly.
Wirtz has made it clear he wants to move to Anfield and Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s Sporting Director, has proposed a package to his Leverkusen counterpart Simon Rolfes with easily attainable performance-related bonuses, such as Champions League qualification.
According to sources in Germany, five percent of the transfer fee will be distributed among the clubs Wirtz played for between the ages of 12 and 23; Wirtz joined Leverkusen in January 2020 from FC Köln and they are due in the region of €3 million.
Other clauses would include Liverpool having to pay Leverkusen if they win the Premier League again or the Champions League but these are not going to prove sticking points and the indications are they could shake hands at €143million (£120m) – it would be an extraordinary moment for Liverpool.
One of the biggest decisions Fenway Sports Group made on becoming Liverpool’s owners was to shatter the British transfer record for Andy Carroll in January 2011, when they spent £35million to sign him from Newcastle.
They have pushed the boat in the intervening years, doing deals for Mo Salah (£36.9m, June 2017), Naby Keita (£50m, June 2017), Virgil van Dijk (£75m, January 2018) and Darwin Nunez (£85m, June 2022) but going beyond £100million for the first time is a huge statement of intent.
Wirtz, who is away with Germany’s squad for the Nations League finals, will find the settling in process easier as Frimpong will be waiting for him. Liverpool have been keen on the exciting right-sided player for some time and triggered his release clause.
