Liverpool complete £30million signing of Sadio Mane from Southampton

The Senegal international becomes the third-most expensive player in the Reds history and Jurgen Klopp's fourth purchase of the summer

Liverpool have made Sadio Mane the third-most expensive player in their history after completing a £30million deal for the Southampton winger.

The 24-year-old Senegal international has put pen to paper on a five-year deal to becomeJurgen Klopp's fourth major signing this summer.

After the clubs agreed a fee over the weekend, the player passed a medical on Mondaybefore completing personal negotiations.

Mane, a right-footed player who can be utilised on both flanks, will wear the number 19 shirt and is expected to link up with his new team-mates when they return to Melwood to start pre-season training on Saturday.

Mane told Liverpoolfc.com: "Today is a big day and I am very happy to sign for one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

“It’s a club that has won a lot of trophies and has a big history.

“Now I am looking forward to meeting all the staff and my teammates and starting the season.”

The Reds boss has been an admirer of Mane since his time in charge at Borussia Dortmund when the player was impressing for Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg.

Mane had also been targeted by Liverpool’s much-discussed transfer committee during the summer of 2014 only for Brendan Rodgers to decline the opportunity to pursue his signature.

He instead joined Southampton for almost £12m, where among his achievements was scoring the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history when scoring three times in 176 seconds against Aston Villa in May 2015.

Mane becomes the fifth player to move from St Mary’s to Anfield during the last two years, following the earlier moves of Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne.