Liverpool and Christian Benteke completed his £32.5 million transfer from Aston Villa.
Benteke is understood to have signed a five-year contract, with Liverpool paying £16 million up front and the remainder of the fee payable over the course of his contract.
Brendan Rodgers’ pursuit of the 24-year-old has been a lengthy one as the club were initially not prepared to meet the striker’s buy-out clause but after the sale of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City in a £49m deal last week there was a change of heart.
“I’m very happy to be here and I would like to thank the owners, Ian [Ayre, chief executive] and of course the manager for their massive effort to bring me here,” the striker told Liverpool’s website. “I think it was the right club for me because I had a good chat with the manager and I wanted to be part of his project.
“I know Liverpool is a big story. They’ve won league titles and the Champions League five times and of course the Uefa Cup and a lot of trophies. I know it’s a big club.
“I’m very happy to be part of the Liverpool family now and I will do everything to make them happy and work hard for them and my team-mates.”
