Liverpool Football Club have confirmed a deal has been reached to sign goalkeeper Loris Karius from FSV Mainz 05.
The 22-year-old has agreed a long-term contract with the Reds to tie up a move from the Bundesliga side after completing a medical on Merseyside.
Speaking about the switch to Anfield, Karius told Liverpoolfc.com: “It’s a very good feeling and it’s an honour to play for a club like this.
“They have a special history and the fans are amazing here, so I look forward to playing at Anfield.
“I know a lot about the club from watching them on TV. The history, everybody who plays football knows. There a lot of things in my head when I think of this club.
“I spoke to the manager and I had a good feeling afterwards because he told me what he wants to do with the club and with the players.
“It was a good talk with him and after that I was convinced this was the right decision.”
Karius, who has represented Germany at U21 level, made 34 Bundesliga appearances last season, keeping nine clean sheets to help Mainz to a sixth-place finish.
He becomes Liverpool’s second new arrival of the summer so far after a deal was agreed earlier this year to sign Joel Matip following the conclusion of his current deal with FC Schalke.
Karius will officially become registered as a Reds player on July 1.
Jürgen Klopp has spoken of his delight at the capture of Loris Karius after Liverpool secured a deal for the FSV Mainz 05 goalkeeper on Tuesday afternoon.
The 22-year-old agreed a long-term contract with the Reds at Melwood after passing a medical. He will officially become the club’s second summer signing on July 1.
Karius will wear the No.1 jersey for Liverpool and Klopp feels his arrival will serve to bolster the strength of the ‘keeping options at his disposal in 2016-17.
The manager told Liverpoolfc.com: “I am delighted we have signed Loris, he has had a fantastic season with Mainz and has developed into a very good goalkeeper since his return to Germany.
“I am really pleased that we were able to move so quickly to get him and that Loris has shown such a desire to come to Liverpool with a lot of other clubs interested in him.
“I know he will add to the quality we have in this position and I look forward to working with him and all our players when we return for pre-season.”
Liverpool have confirmed Loris Karius has been allocated the No.1 jersey at Anfield.
The goalkeeper, who agreed a long-term contract with the Reds on Tuesday afternoon, will inherit the squad number when he officially becomes registered with the club on July 1.
The shirt had previously been left vacant for the duration of the 2015-16 season following the departure of Brad Jones from the club last summer.
Other ‘keepers to have worn the jersey include Jerzy Dudek, Sander Westerveld and David James.
After Loris Karius completed a deal to join Liverpool today, we take a closer look at the German goalkeeper's career so far and the journey that has brought him to Anfield.
The stopper’s progress properly took off following a move to Jürgen Klopp’s former club Mainz in 2011, though his development as a youngster had already involved spells with several domestic sides and, notably, Manchester City.
Born in the southern town of Biberach, Karius represented FV Biberach, SG Mettenberg, SSV Ulm 1846 and Stuttgart at youth level – before an early move to England beckoned for the 6ft2 custodian.
Having been picked out by City’s scouts, he joined the Manchester club in the summer of 2009 and featured for their U18s and U21s, but never for the first team.
Instead it was at Mainz where Loris would earn senior recognition, with a debut arriving in December 2012 as a second-half substitute during a 2-1 home victory against Hannover in the Bundesliga.
Loris Karius facts and figures
Saved 74.23 per cent of the attempts he faced in 2015-16 Bundesliga
Ever-present last season and took 1,373 touches in 3,060 minutes of play
Voted second-best goalkeeper in the division by fellow professionals
Chosen vacant No.1 shirt at Liverpool last worn by Brad Jones
Follow the German on Facebook here and Instagram here
There were no further appearances in that season but Karius’ promotion to first-choice at Coface Arena came in 2013-14, when he clocked up 23 matches in the league.
His agility and reactions in shot-stopping, as well as impressive awareness and composure around the penalty area, belied his relatively young age for a ‘keeper and the transition to top-flight football was smooth.
Loris missed just one Bundesliga fixture in the following campaign as Mainz consolidated their mid-table position, and he was subsequently ever-present – playing every single minute – in the recently-completed 2015-16 season.
Nine clean sheets, including a vital one against Hertha Berlin on the final day, helped his team rise to sixth place in the standings and secure qualification for the Europa League on goal difference.
Such was his personal form, in fact, that a Kicker magazine survey saw 235 Bundesliga players vote Karius as the second-best goalkeeper in the division, behind only Manuel Neuer with 13.6 per cent of the total.
