Liverpool have officially unveiled Fabio Carvalho as their latest acquisition following the attacker's arrival from Fulham.
The Reds were on the verge of sealing a deal for the 19-year-old in January, and he was believed to have agreed terms and completed a medical before the deadline slammed shut.
Liverpool ultimately could not get the paperwork over the line in time, but the club reignited their interest in the summer and quickly agreed a deal with Fulham.
Carvalho would have become a free agent at the end of June, but Liverpool forked out an initial £5m to sign the teenager, and the fee could rise to £7.7m with performance-related add-ons.
The Reds confirmed the signing of Carvalho at the end of the 2021-22 season, but the club have only now unveiled the attacker following his departure from Craven Cottage.
Fabio Carvalho has officially completed his move to #LFC 😍
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 3, 2022
Carvalho has signed a five-year deal at Anfield until the summer of 2027 and has been handed the number 28 shirt, which previously belonged to centre-back Ben Davies.
"It's just an amazing feeling to be here at one of the biggest clubs in the world, if not the biggest. So, I'm just happy to be here and I can't wait to get started," Carvalho told Liverpoolfc.com.
"Once you hear that Liverpool are interested, there's only one thought in your mind, which is to join them and try to be in and around the team. Hopefully I can achieve big things.
"I spoke with everyone, and the manager, and it just felt so natural. When things become natural it's just so much easier to make a decision.
"Marco Silva, the way he plays football and made us play football, is more like attacking football and getting goals, which is similar to how Liverpool play, which is to score goals and dominate games.
"That's what I'm here to do, to be able to help the team with my assists, creativity and goals. I'm looking forward to it."
© Reuters
Carvalho joins fellow new arrivals Darwin Nunez and Calvin Ramsay at Liverpool for the 2022-23 season and leaves Fulham after registering 12 goals and eight assists in 44 appearances for the club in all competitions.
The Portugal Under-21 international played a vital role in helping the Cottagers return to the top flight last term, scoring 10 goals and setting up eight more in 36 Championship outings.
Carvalho experienced his first taste of Premier League football with Fulham at the end of the 2020-21 season, making four appearances and scoring his first goal in the competition against Southampton.
The playmaker previously represented England up to Under-18 level before switching allegiance to Portugal and will soon link up with his new teammates for pre-season training.
Ben Knapton
