Jeremie Frimpong switch: Liverpool affirm deal to signal defender from Bayer Leverkusen

Liverpool have confirmed a deal to signal Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.

The Premier League champions have triggered the 24-year-old’s €35m (£29.5m) launch clause.

Liverpool can pay the price in three instalments, and Frimpong will signal a six-year contract. The switch shall be accomplished when the window opens on Sunday, though there may be already complete settlement between all events on all points of the deal.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot extremely charges the right-back, who may also play as a winger.

The Netherlands worldwide was a key member of the Leverkusen group that received the German home double in 2023-24, scoring 14 targets and producing 12 assists in 47 video games in all competitions, whereas final season he contributed 5 targets and 12 assists in 48 matches in complete.

Celtic have a sell-on clause which could possibly be value about £5m. Leverkusen signed Frimpong from Celtic in a deal value as much as £11.5m in January 2021.

Frimpong moved from Manchester Metropolis’s academy to Celtic for £300,000 in September 2019.

Sky Sports activities Information had beforehand reported the defender can be comfortable to maneuver to Anfield if the membership determined to signal a right-back to interchange Actual Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer time.

Nonetheless, Frimpong shouldn’t be being signed as a alternative for Alexander-Arnold. Liverpool already produce other choices at right-back and Frimpong can play wherever on the right-hand facet of the group.

Liverpool need to construct on their Premier League success by strengthening their squad, growing competitors for locations much more and offering head coach Arne Slot with extra tactical flexibility.

The Reds are additionally getting ready for the anticipated participation of Mohamed Salah within the Africa Cup of Nations which is able to happen in Morocco this winter.

Frimpong already is aware of Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo from his time with the Netherlands nationwide group.

Liverpool have been monitoring Frimpong for 15 years and got here near recruiting him for his or her academy.

Conor Bradley, 21, ended the season as Liverpool’s first-choice right-back and signed a brand new four-year deal on the membership as they deliberate for the long run with out Alexander-Arnold.

Talking to the membership’s official web site, Frimpong mentioned: “I spoke to the manager a few times, he sounds very positive. He says I can bring a lot of energy and my qualities, my speed.

“Particularly when a supervisor is speaking positively about you, it provides you excellent confidence that he believes in you. I’ve had good conversations with him.

“I’m really excited [to work with Arne Slot]. Even when I was at [the] national team, some of the Feyenoord boys would tell me about him and be like, ‘He’s the best coach I’ve ever had’. Things like this.

“So, I’ve all the time heard good issues concerning the coach. Now he’ll be my coach, so I am excited for that.”

Evaluation: How Frimpong can exchange Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool

Sky Sports activities’ Peter Smith:

“Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jeremie Frimpong are among the top players in their positions in world football – but they’re very different players with very different styles. The Dutchman could transform their attacking game plan.

“Whereas Alexander-Arnold is famend for his array of passing, placing his team-mates into harmful positions along with his balls into the field or crossfield deliveries, Frimpong progresses his group up the pitch along with his operating and carrying of the ball.

“The stats illustrate the point, with the comparison between the through-balls and take-ons made by the two players over the past two seasons notable. Alexander-Arnold has made 16 through-balls in this period, Frimpong just two. Yet, the Dutchman has attempted 168 take-ons, Alexander-Arnold just 82.

“That distinction will also be seen within the pair’s heatmaps. Whereas Alexander-Arnold typically does a whole lot of his work in deeper areas – and that has been a function of Arne Slot’s ways this time period, along with his full-backs staying again at instances – Frimpong appears to be like to obtain the ball or drive it into superior areas.

“Of course, Frimpong has played as a right wing-back for Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen and from that higher position has been able to weigh in with a significant number of goals and assists.

“How would he need to adapt his role at Liverpool is an interesting question. Mohamed Salah has spoken about how Slot has relieved him of many defensive duties. So if Frimpong were to run into those right-wing areas, could Salah drift into a more central role?

“With Alexander-Arnold leaving, Liverpool might want to adapt. And Frimpong gives them the chance to play otherwise as they appear to defend their Premier League crown subsequent season.”

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The summer time switch window will open once more on Monday June 16 till Monday September 1 – with the deadline introduced ahead to 7pm this yr