Bundesliga team FC Schalke have confirmed that central defender Joel Matip will move to Liverpool in a free transfer this summer.
Jurgen Klopp who was long rumoured to be interested in the Cameroon international has finally landed his man in what might prove to be an astute move.
The 24-year-old German-born player, who can operate as a midfielder as well as at centre-back and has 27 Cameroon caps, came through Schalke’s youth set-up.
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Schalke confirmed on their twitter account that the player will be moving to the Premier League.
Talking about his decision to leave, Matip said:
“I have always said that there is only one reason I would leave Schalke - to experience something completely new. “
For that reason, I never considered a move to another Bundesliga club. Even though the decision wasn’t easy, I am certain that this is the right moment for me to take the next step in my career.”
Horst Heldt, the Schalke sporting director, said: “His decision is nothing against Schalke. He wants to try something new. We have held extensive discussions with both the player and his agent since May. It became clear very quickly that certain decisive factors meant we would not be able to influence his decision.”
Matip is the second permanent signing done under Jurgen Klopp after Serbian Marko Grujic. Grujic, recruited in early January for £5.1m on a four-year contract, immediately returned to his former club Red Star Belgrade on loan for the remainder of this season and will rejoin Liverpool this summer.
Going by Matip’s performances in the past few seasons, Liverpool might have got themselves a real bargain deal.
