English premier league club Liverpool have made Southampton defender Dejan Lovren their fifth summer signing in a deal worth £20m.
Dejan Lovren signs for Liverpool
The 25-year-old Croatia centre-back joins on a four-year contract and is the third Saints player to move to Anfield during this transfer window.
The fee was agreed between the two clubs on Friday and Lovren has now signed a contract after completing a medical in Liverpool.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Lovren said: "It's a dream come true. I'm happy and glad to be here. I'm proud and can't wait to start. I know we have millions and millions of supporters - Liverpool is more than a club.
"After I played at Anfield last season, I said to myself: 'One day I hope I'll be able to play here for Liverpool'.
“The fans will know from the first minute that I'm a player that will give 100 per cent on the pitch."
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers added: "This is a very important signing for us and I'm delighted it's completed so Dejan can join up with us on our US tour.
"He is a commanding and powerful presence and clearly has leadership skills, which is important; he fits the profile of player we are looking for."
Lovren, who will fly to New York on Monday to join his new team-mates, becomes the most expensive defender in Liverpool’s history with the fee exceeding the £18m the Merseysiders paid Paris Saint Germain for France international Mamadou Sakho last year.
The former Lyon defender had been linked with a transfer to Anfield throughout the summer, with Rodgers earmarking the 25-year-old as his primary target to reinforce his backline.
Lovren, who joined Southampton from Lyon for £8.5m last summer, leaves St Mary's 12 months into a four-year contract.
Perhaps, with Luke Shaw joining Manchester United for £27m and Calum Chambers set to sign for Arsenal in a deal in the region of £16m, Southampton will have sold five players for a total of approximately £92m.
Koeman has also confirmed the club are looking to offload £15m striker Dani Osvaldo, while Arsenal have enquired about midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, 24, and Tottenham are interested in striker Jay Rodriguez, also 24.
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