Liverpool have completed the signing of young Charlton defender Joe Gomez for £3.5m.
The 18-year-old England youth international has signed a five-year contract with the Reds and becomes Brendan Rodgers' fifth capture of the summer following James Milner, Adam Bogdan, Danny Ings and Divock Origi.
A ball-playing defender in the Rio Ferdinand mould
"It's a dream come true. It's a bit surreal and it hasn't really hit me yet. But I'm buzzing and just excited to get started," said Gomez.
"The club has got great history and it's a great club, and one that I've always been following from when I was young.
"The style of football and the top players here was somewhere that I wanted to go and get better and learn, and play good football. It was an easy decision."
The young defender becomes the fourth Liverpool signing this summer, following the arrivals of James Milner, Danny Ings and Adam Bogdan. Belgian striker
Divock Origi will also link-up with the club after being immediately loaned back to Lille following an £11m move last summer.
Gomez’s arrival could spell the end of Sebastian Coates’ Liverpool career. The Uruguayan played a key role in helping Sunderland retain their Premier League
status last season and is reportedly a transfer target for Black Cats boss Dick Advocaat.
Liverpool have made a brisk start to recruitment ahead of next season and are also expected to renew their efforts to sign England full-back Nathaniel Clyne from Southampton.