Liverpool have completed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for an undisclosed fee.
The Argentina international, who will wear Liverpool’s number 10 shirt, signed a five-year contract after receiving permission to pass a medical on Tuesday.
mac allister said liverpoolfc.com: “It feels amazing. It’s a dream come true, it’s amazing to be here and I can’t wait to start.
“I wanted to be there from the first day of preseason, so it’s good that everything is done. I’m looking forward to meeting my teammates.
“It was a fantastic year for me, World Cupwhat we achieved with Brighton – but now is the time to think about Liverpool and try to be a better player and a better human being every day.
“Since I won the World Cup, I have said that I want to win more trophies and I think this club will help me to do it, that is the goal and when you are in a big club like this you have to win trophies. So that’s what I want.
“Since I arrived here, I can see how great this club is: the players we have, the staff, everyone. I am very happy and looking forward to playing for this club”.
the athletic revealed last month that the contract signed by Mac Allister last October until 2025, with the option of a further year for Brighton, contained a mechanism to help facilitate the 24-year-old’s move.
Liverpool reached an agreement with the south coast club earlier this week after positive discussions with the player’s representatives.
Despite Liverpool failing to qualify for the Champions League, Mac Allister’s heart was set on playing for Jurgen Klopp.
Mac Allister, who scored 12 goals and registered three assists in 40 appearances for Brighton last season, emerged as Liverpool’s top priority for the summer window after they dropped out of the signing race Borussia Dortmund‘s Jude Bellingham in April.
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It capped off a remarkable campaign for the former Argentinos Juniors midfielder, who won the World Cup in Qatar and then helped Roberto De Zerbi’s side secure European football for the first time in their history with a sixth-place finish in the Premier League.
De Zerbi said of Mac Allister departure: “I am proud to have been Alexis’s coach; he is a very talented player. It’s also been a privilege to work with a guy who has strong, traditional values, and I want to wish him good luck for the future.”
Brighton chairman Tony Bloom added: “We are incredibly proud of Alexis and sad to see him go. He did something very special, becoming the first Brighton & Hove Albion player to win the World Cup, and he was a key player in our best season.
“He will always be welcome here at Amex and in the city. On behalf of all the Albion fans I would like to thank Alexis for the incredible memories and great performances in a Brighton shirt and I wish him the best for the next chapter of his career.”
Mahmoud Dahoud will be one of those in charge of replacing him at Brighton, whose free loan from Borussia Dortmund will be confirmed shortly, while james milner he is ready to go the other way after the expiration of his contract after eight years at Anfield.
Groundwork for the deal was carried out by outgoing sporting director Julian Ward and the club’s football operations team prior to Ward’s recent departure from the club. Jorg Schmadtke replaced him on June 1.
Anfield’s senior figures have a long-standing relationship with Mac Allister’s agent Juan Gemelli, whose group of South American players includes Renan Lodi, Alex Sandro and Allan. Gemelli was one of the representatives involved in the transfer of Philippe Coutinho from Inter to Liverpool in January 2013.
Liverpool believe that Mac Allister’s age (24) and career appearances (160) fit the demographics of some of the club’s most successful signings in the modern era, such as Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk.
He was identified as a key target for the summer leading up to the World Cup and his performances for Brighton simply reinforced Klopp’s admiration for his versatility and playing intelligence.
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What will Mac Allister bring to Liverpool?
Analysis by Mark Carey
Mac Allister has become indispensable in a central midfield role at Brighton. His ability to retain possession, elude his immediate opponent, and build up attacks are among his key strengths.
He will often slip into spaces of space between the lines and will seek to play with those in front of him and his relationship with Moses Caicedo has been one of the strongest Premier league this season.
While Mac Allister has the stamina to actively press when Brighton lose the ball, he is less of a ball winner than Caicedo and has room for improvement when defending in a more organized block.
However, it is what he offers you on the ball that attracts the most. Defensive midfield, central midfield, attacking midfield – wherever you place him, he will continue to provide that set of playmaking skills.
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(Photo: Getty Images)
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