Liverpool complete signing of Thiago Alcantara on long-term contract

Liverpool have completed the signing of Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich on a "long-term contract", thought to be four years.

The 29-year-old joins in a deal reported to be worth up to £27m, having asked to leave Bayern in search of a new challenge after helping them to win the treble last season.

Liverpool will reportedly pay just £5m up front for the Spain international, who had one year remaining on his contract at the Allianz Arena.

"I think it's an amazing feeling. I was waiting for this moment for a long time and I am very, very happy to be here," Thiago told the club's official website.

"When the years are passing, you are trying to win as much as you can – and when you win, you want to win more. I think this club describes what I am as well; I want to achieve all of the goals, win as many trophies as possible.

"It also [has] this kind of family [feeling] that I need because we [like to] have a very close relationship with the club and I think I will feel this, I will have this feeling, with this club as well."

The moment you've all been waiting for...#ThiagoFriday 🤩 pic.twitter.com/s2tOCvnHta

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 18, 2020

"I must adapt to the team as fast as I can in the situation and the context that we are living right now," he added.

"Everything is more compact and we started a little bit later, but still it is football and I think we have to mix all the big things up, all the good things we have. I will help the team in a defensive and offensive [way] and also in a mental aspect.

"[The fans] are not more excited than I am, for sure not! It is not about saying words, it is about doing the things. I will give my heart on the field to my teammates, the club and also to the fans."

Thiago has won nine league titles in the last 10 years with Barcelona and Bayern, in addition to the Champions League in 2010-11 and 2019-20.

The midfielder will wear the number six shirt at Anfield - a number previously worn by club legends such as Emlyn Hughes and Alan Hansen.