Divock Origi signs for Liverpool on a five-year deal

Liverpool, 10/1 to win the Premier league next term, have signed striker Divock Origi for £10m, though he will be loaned back to French club Lille for next season to continue his development. The 19-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Reds, and becomes their sixth recruit of the summer.

Rickie Lambert, Emre Can, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, and Lazar Markovic have already come through the doors at Anfield, as boss Brendan Rodgers looks to add to his squad ahead of a Champions League campaign. The club are 20/1 to win the tournament for the first time since 2005.

Origi however, is understandably happy to have completed the transfer, having flown to the United States for a medical, where the Reds are currently on a pre-season tour.

The Belgian striker said: “I am very, very happy and delighted a club as big as Liverpool showed interest in me. I’m very excited.

“I know it’s a club with a great history, great fans and a lot of great players. For me, Liverpool is one of the greatest clubs in the world and I’m very excited to be part of this great history.”

Rodgers was equally as excited, and is looking forward to working with the youngster when he eventually arrives at Anfield in 2015.

The Northern Irishman said: “For me, he can be one of the most exciting talents in world football. I genuinely believe that.

“You see a lot of good players, but this kid – for 19 years of age – he burst onto the scene at the World Cup, but we’d tracked him before that, we’d seen him as a young player playing in the youth internationals. He has everything to be world class.

“He’s super fast, has a wonderful touch, he’s a good size and is aggressive. What I like, and what I have in other players, is that humility to work hard,” Rodgers continued.

“I’ve seen enough of him over the course of the last couple of seasons to think this is a kid who, coming into the right environment, can genuinely be world class.