Liverpool have completed the signing of Danish international defender Daniel Agger on a four-and-a-half year deal.
The 21-year-old joins from Brondby after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.
“Daniel is a player we have been following for a long time,” said Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.
“We’ve been told he’s one of the best centre-halves in Denmark for 20 years. A lot of scouts speak highly of him and there was lots of interest in him too.”
Agger has been a target for Benitez for a number of months, but the deal nearly collapsed when Brondby raised their price. Eventually, a compromise was reached and although no official figure has been disclosed the player is believed to have cost Liverpool around £5.8m.
“I wouldn’t say he was a particularly aggressive style of player,” added Benitez.
“I think he is a very clever type of defender. His positional sense is very good, for example, and he reads the game well.
“Of course, there are areas he needs to improve, but he is young and we will help him.
“He will be an option for the first team within a short space of time.”
Denmark coach Morten Olsen is pleased Agger is moving to the Premiership.
“He is confident about what he can do at the moment,” said Olsen.
“He still has something to learn and he has a good mentality and if he goes to Liverpool I can only say they will have a top-class player.
“Of course he has got to accept he maybe cannot play in the first team in every game but I am sure he will show that he is a top-class player.
“This is a good move for Daniel Agger and for the Danish national team because the Premier League is a top-class league.”
Subscribe to World Soccer – The essential football magazine
