“I’m really excited to be here”

Cody Gakpo has been announced as a Liverpool player after a deal was agreed with PSV.

It was reported on Boxing Day that the Reds had hijacked the Manchester United transfer for the 23-year-old.

Liverpool have reportedly paid an initial fee of £37m for the Dutch striker, with the deal potentially up to £45m.

He will officially join the club when the transfer window reopens on January 1 with his contract running until the summer of 2028.

Gakpo, who will wear No.18, has been in inspired form during the 2022-23 season with 13 goals and 17 assists for PSV.

He even found the back of the net three times at the World Cup in Qatar as he led Louis van Gaal’s side to the quarter-finals.

And Jurgen Klopp moved quickly by bringing the player to Merseyside to provide competition at the top for Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota.

He could now make his Premier League debut against Brentford on January 2.

A statement from the Reds read: “Liverpool Football Club have reached an agreement for the transfer of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, subject to a work permit.”

Commenting on his change, Gakpo said: “I feel really good, I’m really excited to be here.

“I can’t wait to start training and playing for this amazing club.

“I think it’s a great club for me to come in and try to show what I can. [do] and try to help the team achieve more beautiful moments than they have already done in the past years.

“I think for me personally it’s also good to develop here and there are a lot of great players here. [who] I can learn many things. »

He added: “I’m really looking forward to [playing at Anfield]. I heard a lot of great stories about the stadium, about the atmosphere. I can’t wait.

“Obviously [my aim is] win as many prizes as possible as a team, perform well, show the world what we can do as a team and what I can do as a player.

“And personally, just to keep developing and becoming a better player every season.

“I’m really grateful that everyone welcomed me so warmly and I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone in the stadium and in the city.”