Brazilian Fabinho signs for Liverpool

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Monaco midfielder Fabinho will join Liverpool, the Ligue 1 club has announced, marking the Champions League finalists' first signing of the summer transfer window,

No financial details were given by either club, although some reports suggest the deal is worth 44 million pounds (about 58 million US dollars).

"AS Monaco has reached agreement with Liverpool for the transfer of Fabinho to the English club on July 1," said a statement on www.asmonaco.com.

Fabinho, who has four caps for Brazil, is not in the country's squad for next month's World Cup. /VCG Photo

Usually deployed as a defensive midfielder, the Brazilian, 24, has scored 31 goals in 233 appearances for Monaco since arriving at the club in 2013 from Real Madrid. He was part of the team that won the French league title in 2017.

Liverpool, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season, confirmed the deal on their website. "The Brazil midfielder will formally seal a switch to the Reds on July 1 after successfully completing a medical and finalizing terms on a long-term contract at Melwood," a statement said.

Fabinho told Liverpoolfc.com that he would try to be part of the club's history. "I am really excited about this move," he said. "This is something that I always wanted; this is a giant of a team. The infrastructures of the club look exceptional. A football club of this size coming after my services, I didn't have to think that much about coming over.”

/VCG Photo

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was also excited about the signing, calling Fabinho tactically very strong and "football smart."

"I like that he is young yet experienced also, with a high number of games at a club that compete to win,” Klopp said.

Fabinho, who has four caps for Brazil, is not in his country's squad for next month's World Cup.

Last summer, Liverpool signed Guinea international Naby Keita from RB Leipzig and he will join the English club next season.

Germany midfielder Emre Can is set to leave Liverpool at the end of his contract and been strongly linked with a move to Italian champions Juventus.

(With inputs from Reuters and AFP)