After a Summer where they barely made any signings, Liverpool has announced already a new signing to join the team in the beginning of 2020. It is Takumi Minamino, a 24-year-old Japanese forward, who arrives from Red Bull Salzburg.
The values of this deal have not been disclosed so far, but it is estimated that it could be around €8.5M, since it was the release clause of the Japanese international.
Minamino joins Anfield’s crest with a contract of 4 years, that lasts until June 2024. In his first words as a Liverpool player, Takumi said he was living a dream. “It was one of my goals to play in the Premier League, but I never thought I would play on this team”, he said.
Who is Takumi Minamino?
If you paid attention to the Champions League group stages, you probably saw Minamino in action. Of course, Erling Haaland, the Norwegian prodigy who scored 8 goals in 5 games was making the headlines, but Minamino was an essential piece in the Salzburg team and he definitely caught the attention of Liverpool’s scouts.
Minamino started his career in Japan, where he played for Cerezo Osaka, alongside legendary Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan. He made his senior debut in 2012, but only scored in the following season, making a total of 82 appearances and scoring 15 goals for the team.
However, the team got relegated from J1 league in 2014, but Minamino got an invitation to join Austrian side RB Salzburg.
He joined Salzburg in 2015, going so far as being semifinalist in the Europa League 2017-18, where the Austrians lost to Marseille. In the following season, he shined in a game of the same competition, against Rosenborg, with a first half hat-trick.
In total, he made 189 appearances for Salzburg, scoring 64 goals. He also has already 22 apps for the Japanese national team, making his debut in a friendly against Iran in 2015. He has scored 11 goals for Japan.
The new Liverpool’s 18
A versatile footballer, Takumi can play as a winger, as an attacking midfielder or as a second forward (false 9). In this season, the Japanese has already 9 goals scored and 11 assists in the 22 games disputed for RB Salzburg.
Minamino will wear the number 18 jersey, which was left vacant by Alberto Moreno. The player is expected to be available already on the 5th of January, for the first game of the calendar for the Reds in 2020: a FA cup fixture against Everton.
Liverpool is currently on Qatar, where they will play the Club World Cup final against Flamengo, this Saturday.
Last Wednesday evening they defeated Monterrey on the semifinal for 2×1, with Roberto Firmino scoring the winning goal in the dying minutes of the match.
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