Alisson completes Liverpool switch for world record goalkeeper fee
Liverpool have completed the world-record signing of goalkeeper Alisson - and with it their summer transfer business.
Press Association Sport understands the Reds have agreed to pay a guaranteed £56million up front, with £53.8m going to Roma and £2.2m to the Brazil international's former club Internacional.
They will pay a further £9m in add-ons, dependant on Champions League qualification and also wins in the Champions League, Europa League or Premier League.
Alisson, 25, has signed a six-year contract.
Although they have smashed the existing fee for a goalkeeper, which was the £35million Manchester City paid for Ederson, the fee is well below the £90million Liverpool were quoted by the Serie A club in May.
It is understood Roma dropped the price to £75million last month but a deal was able to be struck for a total of £65million, including bonuses.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 19, 2018
Alisson told Liverpoolfc.com: "I'm really happy, it's a dream come true to wear such a prestigious shirt for a club of this size that is used to always winning.
"In terms of my life and my career, it's a huge step for me being part of this club and this family.
"You can be certain that I'll give my all."
A swift conclusion to the transfer was necessary as Chelsea were interested, but the Blues had to finalise the future of Real Madrid target Thibaut Courtois before they could act and that allowed Liverpool to steal a march on their Premier League rivals.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp believes he has secured the services of one of the game's top keepers.
The German said: "At one point in the last few weeks it came up, the opportunity to sign one of the world's best goalkeepers - then it's not a long thought, to be honest, it's only that you need to have a little talk with the owners! They were quite excited, so we did it.
"The full package is just good.
"How we all do, he needs to adapt to the English Premier League, that's how it is. The league is different, the refs are different, the goalkeeper life is different in the Premier League.
"Of course he still has to adapt and age-wise he can improve, the best years are coming in the goalkeeper life, so it's all good."
It is the second major transfer between Liverpool and Roma in 12 months, the Reds having bought Mohamed Salah for what turned out to be a cut-price £38million after the Egypt international scored 44 goals last season.
Roma, under Financial Fair Play pressure at the time, felt they had been short-changed over the Egypt forward and were determined not to be stung twice, but the agreement struck for Alisson is one acceptable to both parties.
The fee can be partly offset by the sale of Wales international goalkeeper Danny Ward to Leicester.
Liverpool have agreed a £12.5m fee with the former Premier League champions plus a 20 per cent sell on clause.
Alisson's arrival, following on from that of midfielders Naby Keita and Fabinho, and winger Xherdan Shaqiri, is understood to have completed Klopp's business for the summer.
They have no intention of going back in for Lyon's France playmaker Nabil Fekir after a move fell through just before the World Cup despite a fee initially being agreed.
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