Liverpool have completed the £5.1million signing of Marko Grujic, who Jurgen Klopp expects to become a key player for the club in the future.
The Reds have been keeping tabs on the 19-year-old for some time, and it was reported last week that they were closing on a deal to prise him from Red Star Belgrade. It has now been confirmed that a transfer has been concluded, thought to be for a fee of £5.1million, although the teenager will remain at his previous club for the remainder of the season before heading to England.
Grujic, who has five caps for the Serbian international side at Under-21 level, is a product of the youth system at the Stadion Rajko Mitic, and has gone on to score five goals in 33 first team appearances since making his debut in May 2013. The midfielder was also part of his country’s successful Under-20 squad last year, when they went on to beat Brazil and win the World Cup in New Zealand.
“We’re very pleased because Marko is a big talent and we’ve seen him a lot of times,” Klopp told the official club website. “When I came here, our scouts showed me some footage of a very skilled player from Red Star Belgrade. I would say he’s a tall boy, but quick and good at technical things. He can play passes and can dribble. But he is young, so he has to develop. He will do this.”
Klopp is clearly excited about the potential of his first signing, who is equally enthralled about making the move to Anfield. The youngster said: “I can’t wait to get started. I was thinking about my progress in my next period and decided it was good for me to come here and try to be the best I can. I want to play in front of one of the loudest set of fans in Europe at Anfield.”
