Philipp Degen Player Thread

[smigger15]

Done Deal:

Liverpool Football Club today confirmed that Swiss international defender Philipp Degen will sign a contract with the club on July 1.
The right sided full-back - who will represent his country at this summer's European Championships - is out of contract with Borussia Dortmund this summer and has opted to begin a new career on Merseyside from next season.
 
Philipp Degen, 25, spent four seasons in his homeland with FC Basel before his move to the Bundeslga and will provide competition for Steve Finnan and Alvaro Arbeloa in the right-back role at Anfield.
 
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez said: "Philipp is still young but has gained great experience from playing in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund and on the international stage with Switzerland. He also played in the Champions League during his time with Basel and so is used to top level football.
 
"He is an offensive player with great energy and a winning mentality. His strength is going forward and I am confident he will be prove to be a quality addition to our squad."
 
Looking ahead to the move, Degen said: "When I received the offer from Liverpool, there was no doubt I would accept it. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world and I am looking forward to the challenge of establishing myself there and playing in the best league there is."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N159977080520-0812.htm

[crouchinho]

Good luck to Phillip, hope he is another Arby except with more brute in his game.

There's signing number 1. Who's the first out the door now...

[DOBBS83]

Excellent, looks like we are getting stuck in early with the signings, thank f**k for Rafa!

Hope he turns out to be hungry just like Torres, masch, agger and skrtel!

[riise' boot boy]

good luck to him, never heard of him but must have seen him play when we played basel a few years back. lets hope he's as good if not better than the last swiss guy we had playing for us, stephane henchoz

[jonnylfc88]

good to see us making our intentions clear early on, hope rafa's swooped up a gem for us, good luck to Degen, hope he does the fans and the team proud!

[Wellzy]

Good Luck Philipp. That means no Rafinha.

Another Arbeloa hopefully! I think Finnan will leave now.

[Billy1]

Lets hope he is a better player than the one we got last summer from the bundesliga,however like all players who come to Anfield I wish him all the best and hope he proves a great success for us and himself.

[Doddzy89]

Would have prefered Little Rafa but willing to give the lad a chance.

Welcome to Anfield Phillip

[ayrton77]

Welcome to our first signing of the summer, I really hope he fits in quickly and establishes himself. It'll do Arbeloa good to have a bit of competition for that RB spot! 

[AJ]

Welcome to Liverpool Mr Degan!

I guess he was the "established" player Rafa was talking about then, also has some CL experience too which is always a plus.  Should prove to be interesting competition for Finnan and Arbeloa although I think we will see the latter competing with Aurellio more for the left next season.

[Billy1]

Welcome to Liverpool Mr Degan!

I guess he was the "established" player Rafa was talking about then, also has some CL experience too which is always a plus.  Should prove to be interesting competition for Finnan and Arbeloa although I think we will see the latter competing with Aurellio more for the left next season.

AJ I think it will be Insua competing for the left back position next season.

[AJ]

AJ I think it will be Insua competing for the left back position next season.

U reckon? if we are serious about a title charge next season that leaves little time for him to settle into a regular first team place and Arbeloa would be more suitable in my opinion.

[crouchinho]

U reckon? if we are serious about a title charge next season that leaves little time for him to settle into a regular first team place and Arbeloa would be more suitable in my opinion.

Tend to agree with Billy, we have a gem of a LB in Insua and wont take long to settle if his recent performances are anything to go by. Looking forward to seeing him more often next season.

In the immediate future though (first few weeks of the season), I see Arby occupying the LB spot while Finnan and Degen fight for the RB spot, so in that sense I very much agree AJ.

[lil cisse]

"He is an offensive player with great energy and a winning mentality. His strength is going forward and I am confident he will be prove to be a quality addition to our squad."

Exactly what I wanted to hear from Rafa. Welcome to our club philipp may you prove to be another fantastic signing by rafa. Cant wait to see him in action.

[AJ]

Tend to agree with Billy, we have a gem of a LB in Insua and wont take long to settle if his recent performances are anything to go by. Looking forward to seeing him more often next season.

In the immediate future though (first few weeks of the season), I see Arby occupying the LB spot while Finnan and Degen fight for the RB spot, so in that sense I very much agree AJ.

I remember us saying the same sort of thing with Hobbs last season and he has not really had many chances either due to the arrival of Skrtel.

[crouchinho]

Hobbs I dont see coming back and really pushing for a spot. I said he may be another Otsemobor and I still think he will be. Insua though, you can tell he has real talent and will be a great player for us, just needs that normal transitional time from reserves to the first team for a few weeks and he will be alright from there I reckon, hopefully anyway

[AJ]

It would make a refreshing change actually for us to use some existing talant from the reserves as opposed to buying in new guys.

[crouchinho]

It would make a refreshing change actually for us to use some existing talant from the reserves as opposed to buying in new guys.

With the new lads coming through, that refreshing change may be only a few years away.

[corballyred]

very very depressing signing cant believe people on here are happy with this signing arsenal scum and chelsea fans are laughing at us chelsea spend 16 on botswinga utd will prob buy alves and we buy some reject from dortmud who were close to relegation and he couldn't make the team, we can forget about the league for another year thanks hicks u clown

[Brian78]

Heres a crazy idea that I thought of. Lets give the lad a chance to even sign for us fully before we start slating him and saying hes sh*te. He formed part of the Swiss defence that conceded 0 goals in the world cup for a start so lets build from that.

[lil cisse]

Found a video of him on his website seems like an attacking fullback just like rafa said, he's pretty quick aswell.

http://www.degendegen.com/

PS. Your not seeing double he has a twin brother haha. On the website just go down and click video philipp which is on the right hand side.

[gopher]

just been confirmed he has signed this afternoon.

[redkenny]

very very depressing signing cant believe people on here are happy with this signing arsenal scum and chelsea fans are laughing at us chelsea spend 16 on botswinga utd will prob buy alves and we buy some reject from dortmud who were close to relegation and he couldn't make the team, we can forget about the league for another year thanks hicks u clown

Do you know how much we payed for him?

[smigger15]

very very depressing signing cant believe people on here are happy with this signing arsenal scum and chelsea fans are laughing at us chelsea spend 16 on botswinga utd will prob buy alves and we buy some reject from dortmud who were close to relegation and he couldn't make the team, we can forget about the league for another year thanks hicks u clown

Do as Redkenny suggests, check the price   

Can't get any cheaper than free !!

[gopher]

hes a free because his contract ends 1st july I believe 

[Court LFC]

One thing that worries me.

"He is an offensive player with great energy and a winning mentality. His strength is going forward and I am confident he will be prove to be a quality addition to our squad."

Wasn't the whole idea to sign a RB or LB that had a defensive style of play?!?!  Just a thought.

But I surpose if he was free...

[gopher]

heres the link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/7409840.stm

Liverpool to sign defender Degen

The Switzerland international defender will move to Anfield on 1 July when his current deal with the German club ends.

The 25-year-old former Basel player will compete with Alvaro Arbeloa and Steve Finnan for the right-back berth.

"His strength is going forward," Anfield manager Rafael Benitez told Liverpool's website.

"He is an offensive player with great energy and a winning mentality.

"He also played in the Champions League during his time with Basel and so is used to top-level football."

Degen - whose twin brother David plays for Basel - has made 26 appearances for Switzerland since making his international debut in 2005.

He spent three seasons at Dortmund, making 70 appearances before opting to move to Anfield.

"When I received the offer from Liverpool, there was no doubt I would accept it," said Degen.

"They are one of the biggest clubs in the world and I am looking forward to the challenge of establishing myself there and playing in the best league there is."

[REDMAN]

Remember-In Rafa we trust.

[The Fallen Soldier]

Not sure what to think about this to be honest, never even heard of the lad before a couple of days ago but if hes on a free why the f**k not..

[adammac]

Welcome to Liverpool and good luck, like any player I hope he does well and proves to be a good addition to the team!

Hopefully he can add some real pace to the wide position, stay fit for the season and I think it would be nice to see him play in the Euro's for the Swiss so we can get a look at what he can bring to the table.