Takumi Minamino has described his transfer to Liverpool as a “dream” after the deal was officially confirmed by the club this morning.
The 24-year-old Japanese playmaker joins for a fee of £7.25m from Red Bull Salzburg, after completing his medical on Wednesday, and will officially become a Liverpool player on 1 January.
“It has been a dream, my dream to become a Liverpool player. And I’m so excited that the moment has come true,” Minamino said after the news was announced.
“To play in the Premier League was one of my targets. I think this is the top-class league in the world; I was thinking if my career as a footballer progressed smoothly, someday I would be able to play in the Premier League.
“But I never thought I would be able to play in this team and I’m really happy about it. I’m looking forward to it.”
Minamino also revealed what he’d learned from playing against Liverpool in the Champions League group stage.
“From those games I learned this team has such a high level of technique and intensity,” he added. “Their football is of such a high level and I did feel that they were the champions of the Champions League. Feeling that, it makes me feel even happier that I can play in this team. I’m really happy to be part of that team.
“My target is to win the Premier League and the Champions League, and to make good contributions to the team.”
Minamino had made 199 appearances for Salzburg, scoring 64 goals, while becoming an established Japan international.
