Thiago Alcantara: Liverpool sign Bayern Munich midfielder for £ 25m | Football news

Liverpool have signed Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich in a deal that could total £ 25m.

Liverpool will pay £ 20 million for the Spanish international, with the potential of another £ 5 million in accessories, and the midfielder will wear jersey number 6.

Thiago arrived in the UK on Friday morning, flying to Manchester from Munich to complete a medical examination and finalize the deal.

The 29-year-old helped Bayern win the treble last season, as they beat Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final last month in Lisbon.

“I think it’s an incredible feeling. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time and I’m very, very happy to be here,” Thiago told Liverpool’s official website.

“When the years go by, you try to win as much as you can, and when you win, you want to win more. I think this club also describes what I am, I want to achieve all the goals, win as many trophies as possible.

“Too [has] this kind of family [feeling] What do I need because we [like to] I have a very close relationship with the club and I think I will feel this, I will have this feeling, also with this club.

“I have to adapt to the team as quickly as possible in the situation and context that we are experiencing right now.

“Everything is more compact and we started a little later, but it is still football and I think we have to mix all the great things, all the good things that we have. I will help the team on defense and offense.” [way] and also in a mental aspect.

“[The fans] They are not more excited than I am, surely not! It’s not about saying words, it’s about getting things done. I will give my heart on the pitch to my teammates, to the club and also to the fans. “

‘The most difficult decision of my sports career’

When he left the Bundesliga giants, Thiago took to social media to post a farewell video that read: “I have made the most difficult decision of my sports career.

“I will close this chapter in this wonderful soccer club where I have grown as a player for seven years.

“Triumphs, joys and also difficult times but what I am most proud of is that I came to Munich as a young man full of dreams and now I will leave completely satisfied with the club, a history and a culture.

“Here I learned to love a tradition that I am now saying goodbye to but that I will never forget.

“My decision is purely sporting as a soccer player, I want new challenges to develop further. Bavaria will always be my home, thank you FC Bayern.”

Bayern manager Hansi Flick paid tribute to Thiago on Thursday, saying: “Thiago is an exceptional player who spent seven years of great success here.

“He is a wonderful person and an outstanding professional. It was very emotional today when he said goodbye to all of us.”

Thiago began his career at Barcelona and made his debut for the Catalan team at the hands of Pep Guardiola in 2009 at the age of 18.

He was an unused substitute when Barça beat Manchester United in the Champions League final the following season.

Thiago joined Guardiola again in 2013 when the then Bayern manager brought him to Bavaria. He went on to win seven Bundesliga titles and four DFB-Pokal Cups.

Analysis: Thiago’s signing shows just how high Liverpool is considered

Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol told The Transfer Show:

“Liverpool signing Thiago shows how high Liverpool is right now in world football because he is a player who is the best in the world at what he does. He has been at Bayern Munich for seven seasons, wins a title every season, he only won the Champions League and was one of the best players in the competition last season.

“Bayern knew that his contract was running out next summer. They put a new contract ahead of him, a four-year contract and they thought it was all agreed, he was going to sign on the points line, but at the last minute, he changed his opinion and decided to leave this summer, Bayern decided to let him go and wants a new challenge which is in Liverpool.

“From Liverpool’s point of view, Bayern were initially asking for € 30 million and there was no way Liverpool would pay that. The way they have structured this deal is that they are paying £ 20 million, but for four seasons, So £ 5 million a year to Thiago, when you look at it like that it’s the best lease purchase deal I’ve seen to land such a good player for just £ 5 million a year.

“This is why many Liverpool fans on social media say their sporting director Michael Edwards is a genius.”

‘Thiago offers a no-brainer for Liverpool’

Vinny O’Connor, Sky Sports News reporter:

“Liverpool’s stance all summer long was that they wouldn’t sign Thiago Alcantara – that changed a little bit a couple of weeks ago when it was suggested that they would only try to sign him if someone left, but they didn’t think that would happen.

“Now Liverpool have decided to go ahead regardless of that and they think Thiago is the man for them.

“Jurgen Klopp had also been consistent throughout the summer – Liverpool wouldn’t do business unless a really good opportunity presented itself and there was a deal to be made.

“This is a deal Liverpool could not refuse.

“At 29, Thiago doesn’t necessarily fit into the FSG [Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owners] model of buying young players, training them and increasing their capacity and value, but Thiago’s sheer quality, combined with his experience of performing on the biggest stage, made this particular move a no-brainer.

“He is a player from the here and now, untested in the Premier League, but someone who is used to performing on the biggest stage in Barcelona, ​​Bayern and Spain.

“The transfer should also help solve a problem that Liverpool have recently recognized – Trent Alexander Arnold alluded to in an interview a couple of weeks ago – the game plan must change.

“It has been at the back of Liverpool’s mind to change the dynamics in midfield. It’s not a case that things are getting stale, but they are eager to give the opposition something else to think about now. Liverpool have been playing. in the same way for a couple of years and Thiago brings them something completely different.

“The signing of the triplet midfielder from Bayern Munich renews that competition for places and tells the rest of the players in that position that they have to level up again.

“Now they have decided to move from a position of strength to refresh things and give other teams something new to think about.”

Analysis: how Thiago could transform Liverpool

Adam Bate from Sky Sports:

The commentator was just saying how comfortable Paris Saint-Germain looked when it happened. “They are very happy that Bayern have the ball in their field,” he said. But it was at that precise moment that Thiago Alcantara wove his magic, firing a crisp pass between the lines.

The ball was in the back of the net seconds later. The goal was enough to win the 2020 Champions League for Bayern Munich and, while striker Kingsley Coman was the official man of the match, Thiago’s role in the team’s triumph was not lost on anyone.

At 29 and reluctant to sign a new contract, Bayern realized they might have to sell. Liverpool have pounced and it’s easy to see why. Jurgen Klopp’s side can do almost anything. But they can’t do what Thiago can do …

Read the full article on what Thiago would offer Liverpool here

Analysis: An Amazing Resume and Pedigree

Adam Smith from Sky Sports:

Your CV tells the story. At 29, Thiago has accumulated 11 league titles with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Since his debut in the league, he has only missed the national crown once, in 2011/12.

If that wasn’t enough, what else was Jurgen Klopp interested in? The reduced fee from his declining contract was undoubtedly appealing, but so are his strengths, in particular his ability to put pressure on opponents.

Only Wolfsburg’s Maximilian Arnold regained possession in the middle third more than Thiago in the Bundesliga last season, and played 1,055 more minutes than the Spanish international.

Thiago also brings an enhanced dimension to Liverpool’s current stretch of midfield: the ability to run with the ball. His frequency of complete dribbles is outstanding, as he patrols the central areas of the field.

Additionally, the 29-year-old retains possession, despite his forward-thinking momentum and above-average number of passes attempted, posting a pass accuracy of 90.5 percent, which is ranked 21st in the league.

Thiago offers an unrivaled pedigree, with 12 years of experience in powerful clubs and nine with Spain, while also fitting the mold for a Klopp midfielder.

Summer Transfer Period: Key Dates and Times

The summer transfer window will close at 11pm on October 5.

A national-only window for exchanges between the Premier League and EFL runs from October 5 and closes on Friday, October 16 at 5 p.m. Follow all news and analysis on Sky Sports News and to the other side Sky sports‘digital platforms, even with our dedicated Transfer center Blog.