Liverpool have completed the 39m euro (£34m) signing of Roma’s former Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian, 25, has signed a five-year deal and has been a prime target for manager Jurgen Klopp who has extensive plans to challenge on all fronts in the new season.
At current exchange rates, the fee is short of the club record £35m paid for Andy Carroll in 2011 but matches the sum they spent in 2016 to make Sadio Mane the most expensive African player, BBC Sports reports.
Salah almost joined Liverpool from Swiss club FC Basle in 2014 before moving to Chelsea.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said Salah has “the perfect mix of experience and potential”, adding: “This is a really exciting signing for us.
“I have followed him since he emerged at Basle and he has matured into a really good player.
“His pace is incredible, he gives us more attacking threat and we are already strong in this area. I like that we will make it even more competitive.”
Salah will wear the number 11 shirt, with Roberto Firmino moving to number nine.