Liverpool clinch Thiago Alcantara transfer in £26m deal from Bayern Munich
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Liverpool have completed the signing of Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara in a deal worth £26million.
Thiago has put pen to paper on a four-year deal with the Anfield club and will wear the number six shirt.
The Premier League champions have been heavily linked with the Spain playmaker throughout the summer.
However, they have now got the deal over the line after agreeing to pay an initial fee of £20m with more to follow in add-ons.
Thiago, who had a year remaining on his contract at Bayern, has put pen to paper on a long-term deal at Anfield.
The Champions League winners had demanded €30m for the 29-year-old but the two clubs have now thrashed out terms.
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
In a video released on his Twitter account on Friday, the former Barcelona man said goodbye to Bayern and thanked everyone at the club.
“Yes, I have made the most difficult decision of my sports career,” he said.
“I will close this chapter in 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 full of dreams and now I will leave completely fulfilled with a club, a history and a culture.
(Image: Twitter – @Thiago6)
“Here I learned to love a tradition, that I am now saying goodbye to, but which I will never forget: ‘Mia San Mia’ (We are who we are).
“I have experienced fantastic moments in this city, in Sabener Strasse (the training ground) and in our beloved Allianz Arena. With my Bavarian family who treated me so well and loved me every second.
“My decision is purely of a sporting nature. As a soccer player, I want new challenges to develop myself further.
“Bavaria will always be my home. Thank you, FC Bayern!”
(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool are keen to repeat last season’s success – and you don’t want to miss a thing, surely?
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Liverpool got their title defence off to a shaky start as they edged out a seven-goal thriller against Leeds.
In terms of transfers. The Reds have agreed a deal for Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara, but Georginio Wijnaldum continues to be linked with Barcelona. There’s a lot to keep track of.
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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had previously tried to play down the speculation.
“It is nice that we are linked with him but that is pretty much all, really,” the German said last week.
That came amid claims a potential move for the 29-year-old was being held up by uncertainty over the future of Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.
The Dutchman, who is in the final year of his contract at Anfield, has been linked with Barcelona.
Liverpool, however, have decided to make their move for Thiago now, with the issue not appearing dependent on whether Wijnaldum leaves the club or not.
Thiago becomes Liverpool’s second addition of the summer after the signing of Greece left-back Kostas Tsimikas.
Thiago joined Bayern from Barca in 2013 and was in the side that won the Champions League last month.
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