Liverpool Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Portuguese defender Tiago Ilori from Sporting Lisbon
Liverpool have completed the signing of Tiago Ilori from Sporting Lisbon.The 20-year-old defender put pen to paper on his contract with the Reds after undergoing a medical at Melwood.
Afterwards, Ilori told Liverpoolfc.com: "It feels great being a Liverpool player - coming to the Premier League has always been a dream for me.
"I'm going to try and achieve everything I can. I want to play as much as possible and we'll see what the future holds. I will give my all and try my best to help the team."
Though born in London, Ilori has represented Portugal at U18, U19 and U20 level.
He also has experience of playing at Anfield in the 2011-12 NextGen Series for Sporting.
"I know the history of the club and the Premier League is the best league in the world, in my opinion," said Ilori. "Liverpool, have a great team and I think it's the place for me to be at the moment.
"I know there have been some great teams here in the past and the club has won a lot of trophies and I want to be a part of it."
Ilori becomes Brendan Rodgers' sixth signing of the summer transfer window, following Kolo Toure, Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto, Simon Mignolet and Aly Cissokho.
Official website Liverpool's latest acquisition, Tiago Ilori, is eager to learn from his new teammates after completing a permanent switch from Sporting Lisbon on Monday – and has cited Anfield legend Jamie Carragher as one of his main inspirations.The 20-year-old is relishing the prospect of training, and potentially playing, alongside the wealth of central defensive talent currently at the club.
Despite his tender years, Ilori insists he won't be phased by the quality of players who now surround him at Melwood - and he can't wait to kick-start his Liverpool career.
"For me, the competition is great because I'm a young player, I want to learn and I think that with the players in my position I can learn a lot," he told Liverpoolfc.com.
"I used to watch Jamie Carragher play as a young boy and I would have loved to have had the chance to train and play with him. I'd also like to one day maybe fill his place, too.
"The last 24 hours have been chaotic. It's been nerve-wracking - I've just wanted to get things sorted out. But it's been exciting as well."
he youngster can already boast experience of playing in front of the Kop.
He was part of the Sporting Lisbon team which included Liverpool Academy starlet Joao Carlos Teixeira that beat the Reds 3-0 at Anfield in August 2011.
It's a night Ilori remembers fondly - and he's eager for plenty more wins in L4 over the coming seasons.
"It was incredible," said the defender. "It's one of the best stadiums I have ever played in. We won on the night, so I hope I can keep winning at Anfield.
"I'm definitely looking forward to walking out there as a Liverpool player. Everyone talks about the atmosphere. I'll feel proud when I get the chance to walk out the tunnel at Anfield.
"It'll be a dream come true, especially at such a young age."
Official website