Japan international Minamino will join Jurgen Klopp’s side at Liverpool on January 1, 2020.

Minamino had a release clause in his Salzberg contract which made it really easy for Liverpool to recruit him.

Liverpool newest recruit, Minamino has sealed a long-term deal with the club at Melwood on Wednesday, after an agreement was reached with Red Bull Salzburg for his transfer.

It has been a dream, my dream to become a Liverpool player. And I’m so excited that the moment has come true.

To play in the Premier League was one of my targets. I think this is the top-class league in the world; I was thinking if my career as a footballer progressed smoothly, someday I would be able to play in the Premier League.

But I never thought I would be able to play in this team and I’m really happy about it. I’m looking forward to it.

From CL games I learned this team has such a high level of technique and intensity,

Their football is of such a high level and I did feel that they were the champions of the Champions League. Feeling that, it makes me feel even happier that I can play in this team. I’m really happy to be part of that team.

My target is to win the Premier League and the Champions League, and to make good contributions to the team.

– Takumi Minamino to LFC official channel

Minamino made 199 appearances for Salzburg, scoring 64 goals, while he has earned 22 caps for Japan and netted 11 times for the national team.

Former Salzberg stars in current Liverpool squad Sadio Mane and Naby Keita, making Minamino the third player in the squad to have links with Austrian giants.

This is fabulous news – a wonderful signing. We are really, really happy about this

Our supporters have had the chance to see him close up recently so I don’t need to sing too loudly about his qualities as they are already known.

Takumi is a very quick, very clever player, he finds space between the lines. He is brave with the ball but also brave without the ball – a proper team player. He makes the best of himself for the benefit of others.

His Champions League experience is a big bonus and coming from the club and organisation he does, we know he’ll be well coached, used to an elite environment and had all the right experiences.

It is fantastic work by our football operations team in how they’ve handled this transfer. Michael Edwards and the team deserve a lot of credit.

It’s not hard to see why Salzburg is a favoured destination for players with real talent and hunger. From our experiences dealing with, and facing, Salzburg on and off the pitch in recent months, their reputation as a benchmark modern European club will only grow.

I’m sure all the Liverpool supporters will go out of their way to make Takumi feel at home in our amazing city and club.

I am also pretty sure as of now we have added to our numbers of the LFC family in Japan specifically. For those who follow us now because we have one of the country’s most exciting talents, I say welcome – it’s a special club to be part of.

Klopp about Minimino Joining Liverpool FC

The 24-year-old Japanese international Takumi Minamino will wear the No.18 shirt for Liverpool.

No.18 has been recently vacated by Alberto Moreno last summer and has also been worn by the likes of Dirk Kuyt and John Arne Riise.